Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
THE Medical and Dental Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe Registrar Collin Benyure’s criminal abuse of duty trial started in Harare yesterday.
Benyure is being accused of allegedly taking money from the Council’s coffers to cover personal legal fees.
He pleaded not guilty before Harare regional Feresi Chakanyuka.
Benyure is arguing that he attended court in his capacity as the Registrar and spokesperson of the Council.
Therefore, he argues, any litigation or charge that arose from him attending court was the responsibility of Council to pay for the fees that arose from the case.
It is alleged that on December 17, last year, Benyure was arrested by CID detectives.
He appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court facing charges of perjury.
The State alleges that after his appearance in court, Benyure instructed his subordinate Filistas Chari, the administrator at the Council, to give him US$200 from the Council’s funds which was to be tendered for his bail.
Chari is said to have forwarded the directive to the Finance Office, which handed over US$200 to Tendai Chinyama, who delivered it to Benyure at the Harare Magistrates Court.
The State alleges that this was to the contrary of the Public Finance Management Act Regulations as the money was taken from Council funds without the necessary approval.
The court heard that Council resolved that he should reimburse the US$200 paid for his bail and he should be responsible for his legal fees.
The State says the money has not been reimbursed to date, which is contrary and inconsistent with his duties as a public officer.
