News / National
Zanu-PF official sues local bank for $700 000
18 Apr 2013 at 09:02hrs | Views
FORMER Zanu-PF Harare district coordinating committee chairman Jaison Passade has filed a $700 000 lawsuit against a local bank, First Banking Corporation (FBC), accusing the financial institution of causing his malicious prosecution .
The claim followed Passade's acquittal by the Magistrate Court on fraud charges which were raised by FBC after a business transaction between the parties failed to materialise.
According to Passade's declaration, FBC's security officer Bandirai Ngobson, who represented the bank as the State's star witness, made a wrongful, malicious and false claim of fraud against him by supplying police with incorrect information leading to his prosecution.
The politician said the incident leading to his two-day detention in police cells and subsequent appearance in court occurred on March 25, 2011.
This was after FBC had alleged that he deposited a cheque valued at $800 000 for his firm Nelsgate Investment with the financial institution aiming at swindling it to the same value.
The bank alleged that he supported his cheque deposit with fake tender documents intending to cause FBC to act upon such misrepresentation which would result in it losing the funds.
The regional court, however, cleared Passade after it emerged his actions were not intended to defraud the bank.
Passade, who is represented by a Harare lawyer David Ngwerume, said in his affidavit: "When the defendant (FBC) through Ngobson, made these criminal charges, they were fully aware that the allegations were false and malicious and were intended to damage the reputation and good standing of plaintiff in the community and worldwide. He is an international businessman with international interests and also a political figure in Zimbabwe."
According to the claim, Passade said FBC defamed and caused him suffering for which he demanded $300 000 for contumelia, deprivation of freedom and mental anguish, $50 000 for legal representation, $50 000 for loss of business and $300 000 for defamation of character.
The claim followed Passade's acquittal by the Magistrate Court on fraud charges which were raised by FBC after a business transaction between the parties failed to materialise.
According to Passade's declaration, FBC's security officer Bandirai Ngobson, who represented the bank as the State's star witness, made a wrongful, malicious and false claim of fraud against him by supplying police with incorrect information leading to his prosecution.
The politician said the incident leading to his two-day detention in police cells and subsequent appearance in court occurred on March 25, 2011.
The bank alleged that he supported his cheque deposit with fake tender documents intending to cause FBC to act upon such misrepresentation which would result in it losing the funds.
The regional court, however, cleared Passade after it emerged his actions were not intended to defraud the bank.
Passade, who is represented by a Harare lawyer David Ngwerume, said in his affidavit: "When the defendant (FBC) through Ngobson, made these criminal charges, they were fully aware that the allegations were false and malicious and were intended to damage the reputation and good standing of plaintiff in the community and worldwide. He is an international businessman with international interests and also a political figure in Zimbabwe."
According to the claim, Passade said FBC defamed and caused him suffering for which he demanded $300 000 for contumelia, deprivation of freedom and mental anguish, $50 000 for legal representation, $50 000 for loss of business and $300 000 for defamation of character.
Source - newsday
