A HARARE magistrate has acquitted Zimbabwe Conference of
Sabbath-Keeping Church pastor, who was accused of fraud and forging an
immigration receipt as proof of payment for a work permit, citing lack of
evidence.
Dwight Eric Haynes (61), who holds an American passport,
pleaded not guilty to the charges when he appeared before magistrate Eric
Kadye.
The church’s bishop, Abdulla Bader Ahomed and Zimbabwe
Immigration Authority’s Nyatwa Bunya were the complainants in the case.
Ahomed had alleged that Hynes converted $1 500 church money
meant for his work permit to his own use and then forged a Zimra receipt to
cover up the offence.
In his defence, Haynes told the court that his work permit
application was done by State witness Norman Joel and he was the custodian of
all the receipts which the State alleges he forged.
Haynes also told the court that there was bad blood between
him, Ahomed and Joel because he had managed to invest in Zimbabwe in two years,
something the two complainants had failed to do in their 20-year stay in the
country.
In passing ruling, Kadye said the facts in the case did not
show any wrongdoing of fraud and forgery by the accused person as he was not
the custodian of the receipts presented in court as exhibits.
Kadye said the State had the onus to prove its allegations
beyond reasonable doubt and the principal immigration officer who testified
confirmed the receipt was fake, but had no knowledge of its origin. Netsai
Mushayabasa appeared for the State. Newsday
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