Harare lawyer Farai Chauke was on Thursday found not guilty
of forging signatures on a Notarial Deed of Trust for Nyangambe Wildlife
Community Project.
Chiredzi Magistrate Geraldine Mutsoto made the ruling after
Chauke filed an application for discharge at the close of state case on
Tuesday.
In her ruling Magistrate Mutsoto said the evidence by state
witnesses was not credible in that five of them said they gave Chauke consent
to prepare a notarial deed document on their behalf while 10 of the witnesses
said they didn`t casting doubt in the court`s mind.
She also said the trustees did not make police reports. One
of the witnesses Marisa Chihanya died before filing a complaint at the police
but his written statement to police was presented in court raising the question
if he reported the matter from the grave.
There were also receipts for payments in relation to the
notarial deed of trust as well as legal fees paid to Chauke coming from the
complainants making it difficult for the court to rely on porous evidence
brought to court.
Chauke who testified in his own defense during the trial which
started in February this year said he was innocent but Philip Mafuta who is the
director for Green Africa Safaris which is in a management partnership with
Nyangambe Wildlife Community Project
want to fix him for his stance against the organisation`s hunting
escapades in Nyangambe. He also said Mafuta is illegally gunning down animals
in their community together with President Emmerson Mnangagwa`s son Kudakwashe.
Noel Muranda prosecuted.
Masvingo Mirror
0 comments:
Post a Comment