Convicted fraudsters Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu begged a Zimbabwe judge for lighter sentences after getting nailed in a goat scheme that cost the government 7.38 million dollars, and they claimed their two dozen kids need them around. Chimombe runs three households with 15 minors, while Mpofu supports nine children, and both guys said their combined wealth hits around 3 million, with monthly income previously ranging between 10,000 and 20,000 dollars each.
The state wants them locked up for 35 years since they derailed a national agricultural program by delivering only 4,208 goats out of over 100,000 promised. Mpofu apologized for not checking fake tax documents from ZIMRA and NSSA, while Chimombe argued he was barely involved in planning the scam.
Both defendants already spent 18 months behind bars waiting for trial, and their lawyers pushed the court to consider that time served plus their diabetes and blood pressure problems.
The state wants them locked up for 35 years since they derailed a national agricultural program by delivering only 4,208 goats out of over 100,000 promised. Mpofu apologized for not checking fake tax documents from ZIMRA and NSSA, while Chimombe argued he was barely involved in planning the scam.
Both defendants already spent 18 months behind bars waiting for trial, and their lawyers pushed the court to consider that time served plus their diabetes and blood pressure problems.
