Harare — Rotina Mavunga alias Nomatter Tagarira (35), who was arrested last week after her claims that she had discovered diesel in Chinhoyi were proved untrue, appeared before a Chinhoyi magistrate facing fraud charges.

Mavunga, who claims to be possessed with a spirit of Changamire is also facing an alternative charge of being a criminal nuisance under section 46 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Magistrate Mr Ngonidzashe Nduna remanded Mavunga in custody to today pending finalisation of the bail hearing. The initial remand hearing began with Mavunga's lawyer, Mr Chandavengerwa Chopamba of Mushonga and Associates raising concern on the manner in which the police handled his client's arrest saying she was denied access to her lawyers. The State, led by Mr Herikiya Maromo, opposed bail saying Mavunga was likely going to abscond considering that she knew and was being harboured by a high ranking Government official. Mr Maromo told the court that evidence gathered by the police indicated that Mavunga moved from one place to another with the assistance of the top Government official who assigned a vehicle for that purpose. Mr Chopamba requested that the investigating officer gives evidence and respond to allegations that his client was abused during the arrest.

"I am afraid that the public prosecutor cannot respond and address the complaints we have against the police. The investigating officer should be summoned to answer. It's unfair to him (Mr Maromo)," he said. Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Milward Tozivepi said the investigations began on September 18 but repeated attempts to have Mavunga handed over to the police by the top Government official were frustrated. It is alleged that the Government official was approached on two separate occasions to release Mavunga but he resisted. Det Sgt Tozivepi revealed that the official caused a scene at the Police General Headquarters in Harare after he turned up escorting Mavunga. He allegedly manhandled a police officer.

Allegations against Mavunga are that sometime in April 2006, she was in the company of some gold panners when they came across a plastic container that had diesel and hatched a plan that culminated in them approaching the political leadership.