Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku
FORMER Highlanders FC CEO Brian Busani Moyo appeared in court for the continuation of his trial today and pleaded not guilty to defrauding Highlanders of US$2 000, describing both Highlanders and his convicted accomplice Andrew Mandigora as corrupt.
Moyo appeared before Bulawayo Provincial Magistrate Richard Ramaboea facing fraud charges, allegedly related to the purchase of players Never Rauzhi and Malvern Hativagoni.
Represented by his lawyer Thamani Ncube of Wallace Law Chambers, Moyo told the court during cross-examination that Highlanders and Mandigora had a close relationship and were corrupt.
He claimed that in a previous player deal, a player was initially pegged at US$5 000 but the price was allegedly inflated to US$5 500 by one of the Highlanders executives in collusion with Mandigora, before Moyo was appointed CEO. Highlanders paid the inflated US$5 500, he said.
He further explained that Mandigora returned US$500 after his superiors at Bulawayo Chiefs discovered irregularities in a player deal involving Never Rauzhi and Malvern Hativagoni.
Moyo denied ever defrauding Highlanders, stating that Highlanders paid US$23 000 to Bulawayo Chiefs and that he had appended his signature. He blamed Mandigora for allegedly doctoring the receipts and Memorandum of Understanding to show that only US$18 000 was paid.
When asked about the information contained in the receipts and the Memorandum of Understanding, Moyo said: “I agree with all the information contained in the receipts and Memorandum of Understanding but I do agree with the US$18 000 and US$23 000.”
However, when grilled by the State, he acknowledged that the signatures on both documents were his. The State alleged: “I put it to you that you appended the signatures on all copies of the Memorandum of Understanding because you agreed to what is contained in the documents to defraud Highlanders FC of US$5 000, with you taking US$2 000 while the convicted accomplice pocketed US$3 000.”
Moyo was remanded out of custody to 16 September for judgment.
