Katsimberis’ lawyer stuns gallery with dramatic ‘return from SA’

By Staff Reporter

Harare- THE gallery at the Harare Magistrate’s Court was stunned Tuesday , when a lawyer who had missed court because he was purportedly in South Africa stormed the court room ‘at the speed of light’ to save his client, Express Mail Zim can report.

The lawyer, Advocate Tino Chinyoka was representing property developer George Katsimberis who is facing charges of defrauding award winning developer Ken Sharpe of West Properties when he allegedly built a showroom in a joint venture agreement in Borrowdale using a fraudulently acquired building plan.
Sharpe then took legal action against Katsimberis.

Katsimberis had prayed for postponement of the matter with Chinyoka’s proxy Millicent Moyo from Mutumbwa Law Firm, citing that he (Chinyoka) had flew out to South Africa to seek medical attention.

Presiding magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti-Guwuriro dismissed the application for postponement of the matter on basis that Katsimberis also had another lawyer (Advocate Tawanda Kanengoni), who was sitting on the bar and hence they could proceed.

Chinyoka who was supposedly ailing in South Africa caught wind of the news that the matter was proceeding and abruptly bolted into the courtroom and advised that there was a miscommunication with Moyo.

He stated that he was meant to travel later the same day.

The magistrate rebuked Moyo for spewing lies in court.

“The problem the court is having is that it is said Advocate Chinyoka travelled last night to South Africa while in actual fact he is in the country. The legal practitioners are officers of the court and must always say the truth,” Muchuchuti-Guwuriro said.

Katsimberis instructed Chinyoka to file an application for referral to the Constitutional Court to determine whether his rights are being violated when his key witness was arrested.