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Senior Court Reporter
A Harare lawyer has been arrested on allegations of misappropriating trust funds amounting to $32 000 which had been deposited into her account.
Fiona Machekeche (38) of Machekeche and Partners allegedly stole the money from the firm’s trust account which was meant for a client, Brighton Murisa.
Murisa reportedly sold his stand for $80 000 and the purchaser paid the money into the firm’s trust account.
Machekeche appeared before magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe on Tuesday facing theft of trust property charges.
She was granted $100 bail.
Mr Mahwe remanded her to July 1 for commencement of trial.
The prosecutor Mrs Idah Mateke-Maromo alleged that on February 2, Murisa sold his stand for $80 000 through Skies Properties and he engaged Machekeche to do conveyancing on his behalf.
On March 12, it is alleged, the person who bought the stand paid the whole amount which he deposited into Machekeche’s trust account.
According to the State, Machekeche was supposed to subtract agent’s and conveyancing fees totalling to $8 000.
Instead of transferring $72 000 to Murisa, Machekeche only transferred $40 000 and converted $32 000 to her personal use, the court heard.
Murisa made a report to the police and only $15 000 was recovered.
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