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Prisoner hit with fresh 6 years
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An inmate already serving time at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison for fraud has been handed an additional six-year jail term after being convicted of perjury with intent to deceive in a botched property deal.
Washington Ferera (41) was convicted after the High Court of Zimbabwe found that he submitted fake, back-dated agreements of sale in an attempt to unlawfully acquire prime land. Harare Regional Magistrate Mr Stanford Mambanje initially sentenced Ferera to seven years' imprisonment, before suspending one year on condition of good behaviour.
Ferera had pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In his ruling, Mr Mambanje said State witness Norman Mugiya gave credible and compelling testimony, proving that Ferera and his wife, Scholastic Muringai—who remains at large—instructed him to process title deeds that were deliberately back-dated to facilitate the illegal acquisition of the land.
The complainant was represented by Harare-based lawyer Mrs Tendai Rusinahama, while the State was led by prosecutor Mrs Cecilia Mashingaidze.
According to the prosecution, between January and March 2018, Ferera and Muringai, acting with intent to deceive the High Court, signed a fake back-dated agreement of sale for a property known as Lot 358 of Prospect, measuring approximately 25,15 hectares. The property was purportedly sold to Schomet Industrial Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, with Ferera falsely presenting himself as the seller and Muringai as the buyer's representative.
The court heard that, as a result of the misrepresentation, the High Court and other authorities were misled into transferring title deeds from Schomet Industrial Holdings to Maride Investments Trust through a court order, without the production of original title deeds.
It was further established that Muringai attached the fraudulent agreement of sale to her founding affidavit in case number HC 2670/2018, which she filed with the High Court.
The court found that Schomet Industrial Holdings was exposed to potential prejudice amounting to US$4,2 million as a direct result of the fraudulent conduct.
With his latest conviction, Ferera's legal troubles have deepened, while police continue to hunt for his wife, who remains on the run.
Washington Ferera (41) was convicted after the High Court of Zimbabwe found that he submitted fake, back-dated agreements of sale in an attempt to unlawfully acquire prime land. Harare Regional Magistrate Mr Stanford Mambanje initially sentenced Ferera to seven years' imprisonment, before suspending one year on condition of good behaviour.
Ferera had pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In his ruling, Mr Mambanje said State witness Norman Mugiya gave credible and compelling testimony, proving that Ferera and his wife, Scholastic Muringai—who remains at large—instructed him to process title deeds that were deliberately back-dated to facilitate the illegal acquisition of the land.
The complainant was represented by Harare-based lawyer Mrs Tendai Rusinahama, while the State was led by prosecutor Mrs Cecilia Mashingaidze.
The court heard that, as a result of the misrepresentation, the High Court and other authorities were misled into transferring title deeds from Schomet Industrial Holdings to Maride Investments Trust through a court order, without the production of original title deeds.
It was further established that Muringai attached the fraudulent agreement of sale to her founding affidavit in case number HC 2670/2018, which she filed with the High Court.
The court found that Schomet Industrial Holdings was exposed to potential prejudice amounting to US$4,2 million as a direct result of the fraudulent conduct.
With his latest conviction, Ferera's legal troubles have deepened, while police continue to hunt for his wife, who remains on the run.
Source - The Herald
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