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Prosper Dembedza
Herald Correspondent
The fraud trial for George Katsimberis resumed yesterday with a State witness saying the municipality building approval process was not followed.
Katsimberis is facing fraud allegations after he allegedly built a showroom in a joint venture agreement without an approved plan.
Witness Allen Matambo, who is employed by the City of Harare as a plan and records officer, said although the stamps on Katsimberis plans are authentic, the process of approval was not followed.
He said approval is a process and the stamps are supposed to be put upon completion of the full process.
The matter was deferred to today for cross-examination.
The Constitutional Court (ConCourt) bench recently dismissed an application filed by Katsimberis, who is a property developer, where he was seeking the court to declare his trial at the lower court unfair.
During the course of the trial, Katsimberis made an application for referral to the Constitutional Court, saying some of his constitutional rights were being infringed.
Katsimberis had filed several court applications which the State described as attempts to delay his trial.
At one point he made an application requesting a Greek Interpreter in the middle of his trial, saying he could not understand English.
This was vehemently opposed by the state, saying Katsimberis was wasting the court’s time after noting that three cases had been closed where he testified in English.
He also filed several applications for recusal of several magistrates and prosecutors, but the applications were dismissed.
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