Online Reporter
Prosper Dembedza
Herald Correspondent
The trial of Westridge Primary School headmaster Thakorbhai Kanjee (73) and his wife Jaya Kanjee (71) has commenced at the Harare Magistrates Court, with the complainant, Ms Neeshta Urmila Patel, insisting that the accused committed an offence through their unlawful conduct.
Ms Patel said the couple, who are her uncle and aunt, never disclosed her father’s shares to the Master of High Court. The couple is facing allegations of fraud involving the unauthorised inflation of their shares within a family-owned business.
They are appearing before Harare magistrate Mr Artwell Sanyatwe, facing fraud charges. The State alleges that the pair illegally increased their ownership in T and J Investments (Pvt) Ltd by assigning themselves extra shares without the knowledge or approval of a fellow director.
Ms Patel took the stand to describe how her uncle and aunt allegedly usurped control of the family’s real estate business.
Ms Patel, who inherited her late father’s 20-share stake in 2015, testified that the accused approached her in August 2024 with a proposal to redistribute company shares equally.
Despite her refusal to sign the resolution, Ms Patel later discovered a filed Return of Allotments (CR 11) showing the couple had granted themselves 10 additional shares each.
After being blocked from viewing company records at the Registrar’s office, she turned to the police, resulting in their arrest last July.
The State, represented by Mr Lawrence Gangarahwe, alleged that the couple acted in common purpose to defraud Ms Patel.
The State alleges that on August 16, 2024, the pair submitted a forged resolution to the Registrar of Companies, purporting that it had been approved by all directors to alter the company’s shareholding structure.
Acting on this alleged misrepresentation, the Registrar processed the changes, resulting in each of the accused gaining 10 additional shares without Ms Patel’s knowledge or consent.
It is the State’s case that these actions prejudiced the proper administration of the company.
The matter was remanded to 21 May for trial continuation.
