By Mary Taruvinga

HIGH Court judge, Pisirayi Kwenda Thursday granted CAPS United boss, Farai Jere $20 000 bail.

Jere is facing fraud charges together with three other top ZETDC officials, Leonard Chisina and Freeman Chikonzo who have also been freed under the same conditions.

The judge ruled that Harare magistrate Lazini Ncube erred in finding the three as not fit for bail.

“Hereupon after reading papers filed of record and hearing counsel, it is ordered that each appellant be and is hereby admitted to bail on the following conditions; each deposits the sum of $20 000 with the clerk of court,” ruled the judge.

He also ordered the trio to report once every week at the police, surrender their passports, continue residing at their given addresses and not to interfere with witnesses.

Prosecutors allege in 2016, Jere won a tender to supply ZETDC with 1151 smart meters and a head end system at a cost of US$3,566, 878.

Jere is alleged to have produced a fake factory acceptance test visit report to the effect that the smart meters and head end system met ZETDC’s standards.

Chisina and Chikonzo stand accused of signing the false report.

However, other engineers expressed reservations over the signing of the document as no factory acceptance test had been done.