Lawyer swindles client of $42,000

A Harare lawyer, Fiona Machekeche, is accused of swindling her client of about $42 000. Machekeche (39) appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Anold Maburo facing theft of trust property charges.

She is on bail. The complainant is a director of Non-Ferrous Die Casting Mr Marvin Mbazima. Prosecuting, Mrs Idah Maromo-Mateke alleged that Mbazima was selling his house, No. 1808 Salisbury Township measuring 3 121 square metres.

He advertised it through Paradise Property Group Estate Agents. Blessing Tawanda was interested in buying the house and on November 21, the parties signed an agreement of sale. The purchase price was $48 000. It is alleged Mbazima engaged Machekeche as a conveyancer to handle the sale of the house .

They agreed that the $48 000 was to be deposited into Machekeche's law firm's Standard Chartered Bank trust account.

Nicodemusly, Machekeche instructed Tawanda to deposit the money into her personal Barclays Bank account. The court heard that Mbazima instructed Machekeche to pay the agent commission of $2 760 and Capital Gains Tax totalling $3 052.

Machekeche did the conveyance and change of ownership was effected into Tawanda's name. Machekeche converted $42 187, 85 to her personal use. Mbazima made several efforts to get his money but Machekeche was evasive leading to her arrest.