Online Reporter
Prosper Dembedza
Online Correspondent
A Harare man, Lewis Matutu, who is facing fraud charges involving US$150 000 after he allegedly stole company shares from a company called Shisib Investments, has denied participating in any preparation of company documents.
Matutu is jointly charged with Blessing Kusangaya, Tafadzwa Kusangaya, Muzimba Muhamba and Chikwasha Muhamba.
Matutu, who also denied stealing any shares, accused the complainant of serious name-dropping, saying he has a habit of dragging the President’s name whenever he carries out his dirty dealings to scare people.
“I did not participate in the preparation of any document like what the State is alleging, nor did I connive with any of the accused persons,” he said.
He further stated that the complainant had planned these allegations since 2018, but the execution took longer than he expected.
“If anyone is to talk about forgery of those documents, it is the complainant himself. I never stole any shares,” he said.
Matutu challenged the complainant to explain how he stole the shares.
The presiding magistrate, Mr Noel Mupeiwa, deferred the matter to September 29 for judgement.
Prosecutor Mr Anesu Chirenje told the court that in 2018, Matutu allegedly connived with the quartet to fraudulently seize control of Shisib Investments, a mining company:
The accused are said to have prepared and backdated annual returns to 2014, 2016 and 2017, which they then filed as returns for April 30, 2018.
The State alleges that they forged the signatures of both the complainant and one Lyton Shumba to make it appear as though the documents were legitimate.
The forged papers were then lodged with the Registrar of Companies, indicating that changes had been made to the company’s shareholding and directorship.
