The trial of Munir Kazi, an Indian businessman accused of stealing $765 000 from currency dealers, was unable to begin.
His attorneys filed a notice of intent to request trial separation.
The businessman will be in court alongside Andre Hoffman and Shingirai Muringi, who are thought to be his collaborators.
The trio conspired to deceive the complainants on October 28, according to testimony given in court. Muringi approached Charles Nyamunda Jounet on the same day.
He allegedly misrepresented to him that he, and his accomplices, had the capacity to provide large sums of RTGS dollars in exchange for United States dollars.
Muringi allegedly indicated that they wanted US$765 000 in exchange for $17 212 500.
It is alleged that Jounet didn’t have enough United States dollars.
Muringi allegedly asked him to solicit for more money from other dealers to get the target they wanted.
Jounet contributed US$28 000, Codwell Muhoni US$100 000, Wisdom Hodzi US$51 000, Rodney Makarutsa US$35 000,
Benard Nyangoni added US$50 000, Nyevero Chibisa US$87 000, Tinashe Kadzunge US$65 000 and Henry Abraham US$349 000.
The court heard that, on the same day, Muringi introduced Jounet, Hodzi and Makarutsa to Hoffman in Avondale.
Hoffman allegedly misrepresented to them that their principal Kazi, would transfer the money into their bank accounts.
While in Avondale, Jounet handed over the money to Hoffman, who counted it. He led the complainants to Kazi, at Number 5 Turham Road, Highlands, Harare.
At around 1800 hours Kazi allegedly sent the complainants fictitious proof of payments, allegedly from Ecobank account number 0011037616152101.
Upon receiving the proof of payments, the complainants left and waited for the funds to reflect into their bank accounts.
The complainants later discovered that the alleged transfers were made from an unfunded account.
They in turn asked the accused to return the money.
However, the accused could not return the money, as requested, and nothing was recovered.
Kazi’s lawyer, Oliver Marwa, placed the State on notice that they intend to seek separation of trials.
“We understand that the State is ready to proceed but we seek to apply for separation of trials. This is because Muringi is admitting to violating certain aspects of the Exchange Control Act and is implicating the first accused without basis.
The court will then have the defense in the record, and that will color the judge’s mind, so we have chosen to make the application before the trial begins, explained Marwa.
On October 5, the case will be read again in court to determine the outcome of the written application for trial separation that will be submitted tomorrow.
For the State, Shepherd Makonde took the stage.
Source:Hmetro
