FORMER radio and television personality Tichafa Matambanadzo, popularly known as “Tich Mataz”, who is accused of swindling his employer, Star FM, of $126 000, yesterday received a temporary reprieve after regional magistrate Sandra Mupindu removed him from remand.
BY CHARLES LAITON
The trial was expected to kick off yesterday, but the State witnesses failed to attend court, prompting the magistrate to rule in favour of Matambanadzo’s application for removal from remand.
The State is now expected to proceed against Matambanadzo by way of summons.
The disc jockey–cum–businessman, represented by Dumisani Mtombeni, is facing allegations of defrauding his employer through a scheme in which he allegedly converted advertising revenue to his personal use. He is out of custody on $300 bail.
The State alleges that Matambanadzo misrepresented to some clients that Star FM did not have the capacity to produce certain programmes and claimed he was an agent for the broadcaster through Hamtech Investments and Onesay Investments.
It is alleged he then allegedly created fraudulent letters using Star FM’s letterheads purporting that the radio station had contracted Hamtech and Onesay to create advertisements on its behalf.
Consequently, the court heard, several organisations including the Parliamentary Select Committee, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, the European Union, the US Embassy, Ster Kinekor and OK Zimbabwe approached Hamtech and Onesay and placed their adverts, which were later produced and advertised by Star FM at a total cost $104 932,80.
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It is further alleged that Star FM was also prejudiced in the form of barter deals entered into with Goldtech and Cellone Electronics in which the radio station would provide radio airtime for the said companies in exchange for electrical gadgets such as laptops and cellphones worth $21 807 which Matambanadzo allegedly converted to his own use.
