Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku, Court Reporter
FORMER Highlanders chief executive officer Brian Busani Moyo, who was convicted of defrauding the club of US$5 000, was yesterday sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.Moyo, however, escaped jail by a whisker after Bulawayo provincial magistrate Mr Richard Ramaboea suspended the 18 months imprisonment on three conditions.
The first six months were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence or any crime that involves dishonesty of which if convicted he will be jailed without the option of a fine.
A further six months were suspended on condition that he restitutes Highlanders US$2 000, which was what he got from the deal and the money should be paid on or before October 30.
The remaining six months were suspended on condition that he performs 210 hours of community service at Mzilikazi CPU.
Mr Ramaboea said in passing sentence, he considered that Moyo was a first offender and that he is married with two minor children.
He said Moyo also made an undertaking to restitute Highlanders the US$2 000, which was his share from the deal.
Mr Ramaboea said he also took into account that Moyo lost his job and suffered bad publicity.
His lawyers, Mr Victor Kucherera and Mr Wilson Madzikura from Wallace Law Chambers, had asked the court to fine Moyo as was the case with his accomplice Andrew Mandigora, the former Bulawayo Chiefs administrator but Mr Ramaboea shot that down.
Moyo and Mandigora’s case involved the transfer of two players from Bulawayo Chiefs FC to Highlanders FC in December 2024 and these were striker Never Rauzhi and midfielder, Malvern Hativagoni.
According to court papers, initial negotiations pegged Rauzhi’s fee at US$25 000 and Hativagoni’s loan fee at US$15 000.
Moyo allegedly negotiated the price down but the first deal collapsed.
After several weeks, Mandigora re-opened discussions, and the clubs agreed on US$13 000 for Rauzhi and US$1 000 for Hativagoni.
In March this year, the Highlanders executive authorised payment, with dual signatures required for withdrawals.
Moyo and Mandigora then inflated the amount demanded by Bulawayo Chiefs to US$23 000 but paid the club US$18 000 and pocketed the difference.
Mandigora got US$3 000 and Moyo US$2 000.
