Lawyer arrested

a residential stand worth US$40 000 belonging to his client who had gone to seek medical treatment abroad.
Emmanuel Ndizeye, a senior partner at Chinganga and Partners law firm, has since been arrested on fraud allegations.
On Wednesday, Ndizeye (41) was not formally charged when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Don Ndirowei and was remanded to March 21 on US$300 bail.
The complainant in the case is Mr Cyprien Munye-ndamutsa who is the director of Munya Investments.
It is alleged that in June 2008, Mr Munyendamutsa bought stand Number 46 in Pomona for Z$10 Billion dollars and Ndizeye acted on his behalf.
After the purchase, State prosecutor Ms Memory Chidavaenzi says, Mr Munyendamutsa handed all documents pertaining to the transaction, which included the agreement of sale to Ndizeye for safekeeping, as his personal lawyer.
In October last year, Mr Munyendamutsa travelled to France for medical treatment and Ndizeye reportedly hatched a plan to sell the property.
It is alleged the lawyer manufactured a fake power of attorney document, which purported Mr Munyendamutsa had appointed him to sell the property on his behalf.
Ndizeye allegedly forged the signature of a fellow lawyer Mr Knowledge Maeresa of Sakutukwa and Partners, to make it appear as if he commissioned the power of attorney and stamped the document.
Armed with the fake power of attorney, Ndizeye allegedly approached a real estate agent and instructed them to sell the property.
The property was allegedly sold to Hilton and Elizabeth Maguwu for US$35 000.
The money was deposited into Chinganga Legal Practitioner’s CBZ trust account, which Ndizeye withdrew and pocketed, it is alleged.
It alleged that Mr Munyendamutsa returned home on February 22 this year and discovered that the property had been sold.
He reported the matter to the police leading to Ndizeye’s arrest. – CR.