News / National
Buyanga hires Saadi Gaddafi lawyer to fight Interpol
09 May 2013 at 02:38hrs | Views
Exiled businessman Frank Buyanga has hired a top Israeli lawyer Nick Kaufman to fight an Interpol arrest warrant issued against him at the behest of the Zimbabwean government.
The International Criminal Court defence counsel, who has also represented the likes of Saadi Gaddafi in his extradition case from Niger, said they were confident of a positive outcome since the Paris-based organisation's red notice was arrived at erroneously.
"A number of High Court judges have thrown out the claims and charges against Buyanga, and his Hamilton Group of Companies, so there is no basis for this action," Kaufman told the Daily News by telephone from Netherlands this week.
"In that regard, it is hard to disassociate oneself from the impression that the Zimbabwean arrest warrant (and related Interpol notice) was issued against him after he had instituted legal proceedings (against) a government minister," he said, adding there has been "serious criticism on the application of these notices, as civil disputes cannot be settled by them".
The feisty lawyer said Buyanga was being unjustly hounded, especially after he had been cleared of any wrongdoing by the Zimbabwean police and courts in December 2010 in the financing deals he had done with several people years back.
Coincidentally, the flamboyant businessman's legal troubles resurfaced after he had sued Transport and Communications minister Nicholas Goche for $70 000.
While the young businessman had relocated to South Africa after his Hamilton group had been cleared of any criminal conduct - as encapsulated in chief inspector Chikandiwa's three-year-old affidavit - that's exactly when he found himself on the Interpol wanted list.
Even though Buyanga and his companies have been cleared of any charges, they are still fighting sporadic court battles with several people, who claim to have lost their properties on the sly.
But this week, Kaufman - who has reportedly lodged a 70-page dossier to annul the international arrest warrant - was adamant that there was never an intention to deprive people of their assets.
"I challenge anyone to come forward with a paper or documentation, which talks about interest rates or anything usurious. Nothing can be further from the truth that Buyanga and his businesses were involved in loan-sharking activities," he said.
Recently, the 33-year-old businessman scored two legal victories when the Supreme Court dismissed an application by Tonderai Tarima for the reversal of the sale of a Borrowdale property and a deeds registry employee - regarded as central to his prosecution.
The International Criminal Court defence counsel, who has also represented the likes of Saadi Gaddafi in his extradition case from Niger, said they were confident of a positive outcome since the Paris-based organisation's red notice was arrived at erroneously.
"A number of High Court judges have thrown out the claims and charges against Buyanga, and his Hamilton Group of Companies, so there is no basis for this action," Kaufman told the Daily News by telephone from Netherlands this week.
"In that regard, it is hard to disassociate oneself from the impression that the Zimbabwean arrest warrant (and related Interpol notice) was issued against him after he had instituted legal proceedings (against) a government minister," he said, adding there has been "serious criticism on the application of these notices, as civil disputes cannot be settled by them".
The feisty lawyer said Buyanga was being unjustly hounded, especially after he had been cleared of any wrongdoing by the Zimbabwean police and courts in December 2010 in the financing deals he had done with several people years back.
While the young businessman had relocated to South Africa after his Hamilton group had been cleared of any criminal conduct - as encapsulated in chief inspector Chikandiwa's three-year-old affidavit - that's exactly when he found himself on the Interpol wanted list.
Even though Buyanga and his companies have been cleared of any charges, they are still fighting sporadic court battles with several people, who claim to have lost their properties on the sly.
But this week, Kaufman - who has reportedly lodged a 70-page dossier to annul the international arrest warrant - was adamant that there was never an intention to deprive people of their assets.
"I challenge anyone to come forward with a paper or documentation, which talks about interest rates or anything usurious. Nothing can be further from the truth that Buyanga and his businesses were involved in loan-sharking activities," he said.
Recently, the 33-year-old businessman scored two legal victories when the Supreme Court dismissed an application by Tonderai Tarima for the reversal of the sale of a Borrowdale property and a deeds registry employee - regarded as central to his prosecution.
Source - dailynews
