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Son testifies against father in US$10 000 fraud
2 hrs ago |
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The trial of a Bulawayo man accused of defrauding a prospective homeowner of US$10 000 has opened at the Bulawayo Magistrates' Court, with his son alleging that the accused used his identity in court documents without his knowledge.
Vision Sithole appeared before regional magistrate Lungile Ncube facing a fraud charge linked to a disputed housing stand transaction. Sithole pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
Represented by lawyer Dixon Abraham, Sithole argued that he possessed a valid High Court of Zimbabwe order granting him rights over the disputed stand.
However, the trial took a dramatic turn when Sithole's son, Nigel Sithole, distanced himself from the company at the centre of the dispute and accused his father of identity fraud and misrepresentation.
"The accused, who is my father, committed identity fraud and misrepresented facts to the court by using my name on the applicant's affidavit in HC27/2010 and on a power of attorney in case HC1376/18 without my knowledge," Nigel told the court.
He further testified that his father later admitted during a recorded telephone conversation that he had drafted and used the documents for what he described as "family interests."
Nigel said he had never participated in the operations of Sunops Consultancy and only became aware of the matter after being contacted by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC).
"On May 19, 2023, I received a call from a ZACC officer inviting me for an interview regarding the matter. I then contacted the accused to ask what the case was about," he testified.
Nigel said he later requested documents relating to the matter after becoming unconvinced by his father's explanation.
"The accused admitted that he personally drafted the application for HC271/10 using my name and also fraudulently produced a power of attorney in my name to defend the rescission judgment in 2018," Nigel said.
"I was never involved in the day-to-day running of Sunops Consultancy Pvt Ltd or any of its legal disputes. I had no knowledge that my name had been used in court proceedings."
The matter continues before the Bulawayo Magistrates' Court.
Vision Sithole appeared before regional magistrate Lungile Ncube facing a fraud charge linked to a disputed housing stand transaction. Sithole pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
Represented by lawyer Dixon Abraham, Sithole argued that he possessed a valid High Court of Zimbabwe order granting him rights over the disputed stand.
However, the trial took a dramatic turn when Sithole's son, Nigel Sithole, distanced himself from the company at the centre of the dispute and accused his father of identity fraud and misrepresentation.
"The accused, who is my father, committed identity fraud and misrepresented facts to the court by using my name on the applicant's affidavit in HC27/2010 and on a power of attorney in case HC1376/18 without my knowledge," Nigel told the court.
He further testified that his father later admitted during a recorded telephone conversation that he had drafted and used the documents for what he described as "family interests."
Nigel said he had never participated in the operations of Sunops Consultancy and only became aware of the matter after being contacted by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC).
"On May 19, 2023, I received a call from a ZACC officer inviting me for an interview regarding the matter. I then contacted the accused to ask what the case was about," he testified.
Nigel said he later requested documents relating to the matter after becoming unconvinced by his father's explanation.
"The accused admitted that he personally drafted the application for HC271/10 using my name and also fraudulently produced a power of attorney in my name to defend the rescission judgment in 2018," Nigel said.
"I was never involved in the day-to-day running of Sunops Consultancy Pvt Ltd or any of its legal disputes. I had no knowledge that my name had been used in court proceedings."
The matter continues before the Bulawayo Magistrates' Court.
Source - The Chronicle
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