Credibility of key witness challenged in Gono company fraud trial
Harare – THE fraud trial of ARK Properties directors Clark and Beverly Makoni resumed Friday with the defense casting doubt on the credibility of a State witness who testified against the couple.
The Makonis are accused of unlawfully transferring ownership of a company linked to former Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono, into their names and allegedly defrauding him of ZWL$137 million (approximately US$70,000).
They have denied the allegations before Regional Magistrate Stanford Mambanje.
The State’s case relied on testimony from Lindiwe Sabeka who claims to be an internal auditor at Galwex the company said to have uncovered the suspected fraud.
Sabeka told the court that the couple drew unauthorized salaries, which violates Real Estate Agents regulations, and transferred the funds into their personal bank accounts.
According to her purported audit, the amount misappropriated totaled ZWL$137,736,500 (about US$72,000).
She also claimed that during the audit process a company document was found listing the Makonis as owners.
However, under cross-examination by defense lawyer Admire Rubaya, Sabeka’s qualifications were brought into question.
Rubaya asked her to confirm her status as a certified auditor and member of the Association of Fraud Examiners.
Sabeka admitted she had not brought any proof of her professional credentials to court.
The defense argued that her testimony could not be fully trusted without verification of her qualifications.
Sabeka further alleged that the Makonis were uncooperative during the audit and that she had only seen but not retained the “forged” company documents central to the case.
She also disclosed that many events occurred before she joined Galwex, having previously worked at the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.
According to the prosecution, in July 2017, Valley Lodge owned by Gono hired the Makonis to manage its operations.
A month later on August 10 2017, the couple allegedly falsified a CR14 form appointing themselves as directors and subsequently used it at ZB Bank in Mutare to fraudulently assume control of the company’s bank accounts.
They are accused of embezzling ZWL$137,736,500 in the process- an allegation they vehemently deny.
