The trial of a Harare businessman and four others accused of defrauding Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries leader Walter Magaya of $116 000 in a vehicle deal started yesterday on a dramatic note after one of the accused was acquitted.
Businessman Upenyu Mashangwa was jointly charged with Cosmas Mushaninga, Victor Ngonidzashe Matiyenga, Kudakwashe Larry Mapfumo and Clifford Tinashe Gonde.
Regional magistrate Noel Mupeiwa ruled in favour of Matiyenga who, through his lawyer Simon Mupindu, said he had no case to answer.
The remaining accused all pleaded not guilty to the fraud charges or the alternative charges of smuggling the Land Rover Discovery 4 from South Africa or failing to pay duty to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra).
The State called the first witness, Admire Mango, who told the court that he only knew Mashangwa whom he had dealt with when importing the vehicle.
Mango told the court that there was no written agreement between the two parties since he trusted Mashangwa after he had dealt with the church in the purchase of a property in Marlborough, Harare.
He said was also related to a member of the PHD Ministries security team, Gilbert Mafusire.
Under cross-examination by lawyer Tafadzwa Hungwe for Mashangwa, the witness maintained that he gave money to the accused and personally received the car when it was brought into the country.
However, Mango admitted that he was not aware that Mashangwa supplied seven kombis to the church in another deal or that he had a personal relationship with Magaya.
The trial was adjourned to July 16 when the defence will continue to cross-examine Mango.
Liberty Gono is prosecuting.
Businessman Upenyu Mashangwa was jointly charged with Cosmas Mushaninga, Victor Ngonidzashe Matiyenga, Kudakwashe Larry Mapfumo and Clifford Tinashe Gonde.
Regional magistrate Noel Mupeiwa ruled in favour of Matiyenga who, through his lawyer Simon Mupindu, said he had no case to answer.
The remaining accused all pleaded not guilty to the fraud charges or the alternative charges of smuggling the Land Rover Discovery 4 from South Africa or failing to pay duty to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra).
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Mango told the court that there was no written agreement between the two parties since he trusted Mashangwa after he had dealt with the church in the purchase of a property in Marlborough, Harare.
He said was also related to a member of the PHD Ministries security team, Gilbert Mafusire.
Under cross-examination by lawyer Tafadzwa Hungwe for Mashangwa, the witness maintained that he gave money to the accused and personally received the car when it was brought into the country.
However, Mango admitted that he was not aware that Mashangwa supplied seven kombis to the church in another deal or that he had a personal relationship with Magaya.
The trial was adjourned to July 16 when the defence will continue to cross-examine Mango.
Liberty Gono is prosecuting.
