NICHOLAS Vingirayi walked out of court a free man Monday after prosecutors failed to produce a document they claimed to be key to their case against the former Intermarket Financial Holdings chief executive officer.

Vingirayi’s lawyer, Advocate Isaiah Mureriwa had requested that state lawyers produce the document before proceeding with the trial but the investigating officer, Detective Inspector Charles Chirove, said they needed time to collect it from the 'archives' where it was filed.

Not amused, Harare magistrate Hosiah Majaya removed Vingirayi from remand, telling prosecutors they could proceed by way of summons when they manage to get their act together.

"It does not make sense that the state is saying the document is key but the investigating officer just testified today saying they need more time to collect the document," Majaya said.

Vingirayi, who had been on Interpol’s wanted list, was arrested in Taiwan last August having fled the country in 2004 after being implicated in money laundering and externalisation charges involving  R1.5 million and US$300,000.

Prosecutors claim that between 2003 and 2004, Vingirayi who was responsible for investing funds into his bank’s subsidiaries, connived with an accomplice to withdraw huge amounts of money in Zimbabwe dollars and used the funds to buy foreign currency which they converted to their own use.

He faces 11 counts of theft and two of externalisation of foreign currency.

Following his capture in Taiwan, he was extradited to Zimbabwe last November and was arrested on arrival at the Harare International Airport. But his trial had failed to take off with the State battling to come up with a date.

Earlier this year, he was granted US$2000 bail and ordered to surrender property worth $60 000 as surety.