Tinotenda Hove – Convicted businessmen Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe have failed in their bid to take their cases to the Supreme Court after the High Court dismissed their applications for leave to appeal.

In a ruling handed down on Monday evening, High Court judge Justice Pisirayi Kwenda upheld the original convictions and sentences, stating that the trial court acted correctly and adhered to established sentencing principles.

Justice Kwenda said the penalties imposed were appropriate and properly considered, adding that any possible error in sentencing had in fact worked in favour of the accused. He also noted that the State did not object to the sentences imposed.

“The applications for leave to appeal are dismissed in both applications,” Justice Kwenda ruled.

Mpofu and Chimombe are currently serving lengthy prison terms of 17 years and 12 years respectively, following their conviction for defrauding the government of more than US$7 million through the Presidential Goat Pass-On Scheme.