A Harare company has pleaded guilty to making unauthorised foreign payments worth more than R1.6 million through the informal Hawala system without approval from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
Unicorn Trading Private Limited, represented by its Finance Manager, Ryan Eric Maidwell, is facing charges of contravening the Exchange Control Act.
The State alleges that between January and August this year, the company made payments totalling R1 687 000 and E519 911 (Eswatini emalangeni) to facilitate imports from South Africa and Eswatini without Reserve Bank authorisation.
The matter came to light on 1 September when detectives from the CID Asset Forfeiture Unit, Northern Region, received information that the company was making unauthorised foreign payments.
Police subsequently visited the company’s premises along George Avenue in Harare and requested import documentation and proof of Reserve Bank approval.
The company reportedly failed to produce evidence of bank transfers, with investigations allegedly establishing that the payments had been made through the informal Hawala system.
The State told the court that no money was recovered.
Maidwell is expected back in court this Friday for sentencing.
