Zvikomborero Parafini
A HARARE business executive, who was facing theft charges, has been removed from remand because the State has failed to complete their investigations within a reasonable time.
The State was ordered to proceed by way of summons when they put their house in order.
Nerissa Lee Hotchkis, who is now off the hook, was employed as Charles Stewart Day Old Chicks (Pvt) Ltd head administrator and was facing theft of trust property charges.
The company was represented in court by this security officer Enock Dende.
The court heard that Hotchkis took US$67 896 for safekeeping but later converted US$13 906 to her own use.
The State claimed the case came to light when she got a visit from the General Manager, James Heath, and Human Resources manager, Grace Chinamora, who carried out an audit on SV cash which she was supposed to avail.
The State had claimed that when the money was counted and it was found out that the cash at hand was US$53 992 instead of US$67 896.
The State claimed Hotchkis failed to account for the US$13 906, which prompted her superiors to file a police report.
Rufaro Chonzi prosecuted.
However, Hotchkis is now off the hook after the State failed to complete its investigations within a reasonable period of time.