Source: Lawyer denied bail over US$150 000 property fraud – herald
Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo-Court Correspondent
A HARARE lawyer accused of using a forged title deed in an alleged scheme to defraud a company of a Borrowdale property valued at US$150 000 has been denied bail.
David Junior Munashe Donzvambeva, of Jiti Law Chambers, appeared before Harare regional magistrate Mrs Jesse Kufa, who ruled that he should remain in custody pending the completion of investigations.
In denying bail, Mrs Kufa said the charge was serious and that there was a risk the accused could interfere with witnesses or abscond.
Donzvambeva was remanded in custody to August 6.
The complainant is Bluegen Company Consultancy, represented by its director, Mr Ryan Dokwani.
Prosecutor Mr Lawrence Gangarahwe alleged that sometime this year, Donzvambeva acted in connivance with three alleged accomplices Tapiwa Gona, Danmore Nyamukapa and Tafadzwa Durawiti who are still at large, to fraudulently create a fake title deed in the name of Grace Communications (Private) Limited for Stand Number 163 Quinnington Road, Borrowdale, Harare.
The State alleges that the property lawfully belongs to the complainant.
According to the prosecution, after obtaining the forged title deed, the accused and his alleged accomplices applied to subdivide the property before selling one of the newly created stands to a buyer identified only as Dr Chiza.
The court heard that the accused and his alleged accomplices also relied on the purported title deed to institute eviction proceedings against the complainant.
The alleged fraud was uncovered after the complainant became aware of the eviction proceedings and reported the matter to ZRP Borrowdale.
Investigations allegedly conducted by the City of Harare and the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works established that the land had originally belonged to the State before it was allocated to the complainant.
The Department of Deeds, Companies and Intellectual Property is also said to have confirmed that no title deed had ever been issued for the property.
Further investigations led to Donzvambeva’s arrest. The State alleges that he implicated his three alleged accomplices, who are still being sought by police.
The complainant allegedly suffered actual prejudice of US$150 000, and nothing has been recovered.
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