The High Court has dismissed applications by jailed businessmen Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe for leave to appeal their convictions and sentences at the Supreme Court.
In a judgment released on Tuesday evening, High Court judge Justice Pisirayi Kwenda ruled that the trial court had properly applied sentencing guidelines and found no basis to interfere with the convictions or sentences imposed.
Justice Kwenda said that even if any error had occurred during sentencing, it would have favoured the accused persons. He further noted that the State had accepted the sentences handed down by the trial court.
“The applications for leave to appeal are dismissed in both applications,” ruled Justice Kwenda.
Mpofu and Chimombe were convicted of defrauding the Government of more than US$7 million in connection with the Presidential Goat Pass-On Scheme.
Mpofu is serving a 17-year prison sentence, while Chimombe is serving 12 years.
