‘Katsimberis requested for Greek interpreter to annoy the court’

Prosper Dembedza Herald Correspondent

Deputy prosecutor general Mr Michael Reza yesterday said a request by building contractor George Katsimberis for a Greek interpreter during his fraud trial was just meant to annoy the court.

Katsimberis is accused of building a showroom in Borrowdale without an approved building plan resulting in the showroom being demolished.

Mr Reza said Katsimberis had so far testified in three cases at the Harare Magistrate Court in English.

Mr Reza said Katsimberis initially entered a plea using English before Harare magistrate Mrs Letwin Rwodzi but went on to seek the services of a Greek interpreter when the case was taken over by Mrs Vongai Guwuriro.

Last week Mr Reza accused Katsimberis of forging a court record which he later submitted as a transcript.

While cross examining Katsimberis on his application for referral of the matter to the Constitutional Court Mr Reza said the  contents in the transcript which Katsimberis submitted to the court were forged.

Mr Reza said: “You created this document. There is nothing official in this document. You forged it and submitted it in court because you wanted to scandalise the court,” he  said.

Mr Reza put it to Katsimberis that his rights were never infringed upon in this trial, saying everything had been done above board.

All the rules had been followed and consequently, nothing could be referred to the ConCourt.