FORMER Big Brother Africa winner Wendall Parson’s mother wrote a letter of apology to Alliance Insurance (Pvt) Ltd after her son’s alleged attempt to defraud the insurance firm was picked up at the company’s risk department, a Harare magistrate heard yesterday.
PHILLIP CHIDAVAENZI
Magistrate Elisha Makomo heard that Wendall’s mother, Gillian Jackson, tried to pay $5 000 to the insurance company as part of the apology for her son’s tendering of a false claim.
The State’s bid to present the letter as an exhibit through prosecutor Constance Ngombengombe was, however, thwarted after defence lawyer Harrison Nkomo submitted that there was no proof the letter was bona fide.
A police report had, however, already been made before the apology, the court heard during the trial of Wendall and his brother William on fraud charges.
Alliance Insurance manager Siphathisile Sibanda, who is the State’s witness, admitted under cross–examination that the cover they gave to Wendall created the impression he was insured.
Nkomo said once a person stuck to their car windscreen the small circle from the cover note, the police would be misled to believe that the vehicle had been insured.
“If you are alleging that the accused was not insured, are you saying Alliance was conniving with the accused person to circumvent the law?” Nkomo queried.
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Sibanda, however, said the cover note was just a temporary document to allow a client to be mobile while they processed their insurance.
Allegations against the two arose on March 16 after William was involved in a car accident while driving Wendall’s vehicle, a Ford Ranger.
A report of the accident was made at Borrowdale Police Station and it is alleged on the day the accident occurred, Wendall’s vehicle was not insured.
On March 18, William allegedly went to insurance brokers where he applied for comprehensive insurance for the Ford Ranger together with two other trailers.
A few days after insuring the vehicle, it is alleged Wendall filed an insurance claim and attached fraudulent documents purporting that the accident occurred on March 28 when it had occurred on March 16.
The insurance company processed the claim and Wendall was to be given $23 750 for the vehicle.
The trial continues on September 17.
