Top lawyer 'forges title deeds, sells house without owner's knowledge'

A TOP Bulawayo lawyer, Russell Dzete, allegedly ganged up with three accomplices and forged title deeds which they used to sell a house in the city's leafy Suburbs residential area for $50 500 without the owners' knowledge, a court heard yesterday.

Bulawayo magistrate Ms Evelyn Mashavakure heard this when Dzete (33) of Athlone Flats corner JMN Nkomo Street and Masotsha Ndlovu Avenue appeared before her facing fraud charges.

According to local media, Dzete, who is with Marondedze, Mukuku and Partners Law firm in Bulawayo, allegedly connived with Austin Moyo, Cavan Maibvise and Joseph Masose Mugavazi to defraud the complainant of her money.

Prosecuting Taurai Hondoyemoto said sometime in May this year, Dzete connived with Moyo, Maibvise and Mugavazi to identify an abandoned house at Suburbs.

The court heard that the trio forged documents and placed an advert in The Chronicle purporting to be the owners of the property and selling the house.

They allegedly produced fake title deeds of transfer under number 1553/1966 and the unsuspecting complainant fell prey to the fraudsters and signed a memorandum of agreement of sale. The complainant transferred $50 500 into the law firm's trust account.

The offence came to light when the owner of the property noticed that his house was being renovated and a report was made to the police leading to the trio's arrest.