Pokugara, ex-MD off the hook
STAFF REPORTER
Pokugara properties and its former managing director, Michael van Blerk, have been acquitted in their prolonged perjury case after Harare magistrate Ngoni Nduna ruled that the key witnesses in the matter were discredited.
Nduna ruled that the property developer and its former managing director be set free at the close of the state case as there was no sufficient evidence to convince the court to find them guilty of the laid charges.
It was alleged that Pokugara Properties and Van Blerk falsified contents of an affidavit submitted at the High Court which resulted in the destruction of a showroom built without an approved plan.
Through their lawyers, the two applied for discharge at the close of State’s case and Nduna ruled on the lack of credibility on the part of the witnesses.
State closed its case after leading evidence from complainant George Katsimberis, Roy Nyabvure and Allan Matambo who is a record keeper at the City of Harare.
Defence moved to file an application for discharge which was opposed by the state.
It emerged that Nyabvure’s evidence was of no assistance to the State and described as “not admissible” and expunged from the record.
It also emerged that Allan Matambo’s evidence on submission of plans by Katsimberis was probably fraudulent and the State did not disapprove that the accused acted on advice of the City of Harare.
The findings made the state case weak.
