Zimbabwe president's nephew is in court charged with violating the Grain Marketing Act

Leo and Veronica Mugabe are accused of selling 30 tons of grain to Zambia in violation of tight controls on the trade of basic foodstuffs, according to their lawyer, Eric Matinenga. They were not asked to plead to charges of fraud and violating the Grain Marketing Act.Matinenga said the couple purchased the grain legally for a bakery they own, but did not comment on the charge that they illegally exported 600 bags.

Veronica Mugabe was arrested Tuesday and her husband the following day, he said.

Both were released on bail of 50 million Zimbabwe dollars, which is about US$1,900 or Ђ1,600), pending their next appearance in Harare Magistrates' Court on Nov. 9. They were also required to surrender their passports and put down a surety of 700 million Zimbabwe dollars, or about US$27,000 or Ђ22,000.

Leo Mugabe, the former chairman of the Zimbabwe soccer association, is a wealthy businessman and parliamentarian for the governing Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front, the AP reports. A.M.