BUSINESSMAN’S CONVICTION IN US$480K FRAUD CASE SET ASIDE

Zvikomborero Parafini

THE High Court has set aside the conviction of businessman Luka Ignatius Fabris of Spartan Security who had been convicted of fraud.

He was convicted in June by Harare magistrate Feresi Chakanyuka who also ordered him to pay back US$480 000 to an investor.

The High Court has set aside both the conviction and sentence.

Fabris appeared on his own behalf and on behalf of Spartan Security.

The complainant was Leigh Anne Patricia Rudland.

The State, represented by Anesu Chirenje, had claimed that in 2019 Fabris, on behalf of his company Spartan Security, approached Rudland and told her his company was venturing into a cattle ranching business which was very profitable.

The State had claimed Fabris lured Rudland into investing and promised her that she would get two percent of her total investment every month.

Rudland agreed to invest into the project.

She ordered her lawyers Cohglan Welsh and Guest to transfer some money from her trust account into Fabris’s back account.

The State claimed that on March 21, 2019, the lawyers transferred ZWL$4 800 000 to Spartan Security’s account.

The two agreed that the money was equivalent to US$1 000 000 at the rate of the day.

However, the State had claimed that after this investment, Rudland only received US$540 000 and Fabris stopped paying the money.