Detained former ZIFA boss Henrietta Rushwaya on Friday told the court that her 6kg gold has lost three grams in weight and also lost 6 per cent of its purity.
Through her lawyer Tapson Dzvetero, Rushwaya also complained that she was subjected to harassment during the time she will be moved from Chikurubi Maximum Prison to Fidelity Printers and Refiners.
The gold is being kept as an exhibit at Fidelity Printers and Refiners and Rushwaya was taken there on November 19, 20 and 23 for re-assay of the gold. Said Dzvetero:
The gold that has been seized from accused and its weight has since varied with three grams.
The purity percentage has materially varied with some blocks ranging from 93 per cent and others now more than 100 per cent.
It is our view that once this gold was taken in the hands of police as exhibit it is now subject to the court’s directive.
She cannot be asked to sign for the gold as it is no longer in her custody. The gold has since lost its purity by 6 per cent.
Rushwaya was arrested at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport on 26 October and was found in possession of 6kg gold.
She is jointly charged with businessman Ali Muhamad, security agents Stephen Tserai and Raphios Mufandauya, miner Gift Karanda on smuggling.