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New details emerge in PHD botched car deal trial

News
THE trial of Harare businessman Upenyu Mashangwa and three others accused of defrauding Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries founder Walter Magaya of $116 000 resumed at the Harare Magistrates’ Court yesterday with revelations that no agreements were signed between the parties whenever money changed hands because of the trust they had in each another.

THE trial of Harare businessman Upenyu Mashangwa and three others accused of defrauding Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries founder Walter Magaya of $116 000 resumed at the Harare Magistrates’ Court yesterday with revelations that no agreements were signed between the parties whenever money changed hands because of the trust they had in each another.

by PAIDAMOYO MUZULU

Mashangwa is jointly charged with Cosmas Mushininga, Kudakwashe Larry Mapfumo and Clifford Tinashe Gonde with defrauding the church leader in an alleged botched import deal for a Land Rover Discovery 4 from South Africa.

In the alternative, the quartet is also charged with smuggling and failure to pay duty for the vehicle.

The second State witness, Gilbert Mafusire, conceded under cross-examination by defence counsel Tafadzwa Hungwe that on both occasions, Mashangwa was given money, but was never asked to sign for it.

“Mashangwa is my relative and we trusted him since we had concluded a bigger deal when he sold his house to the church and I believed he would deliver on the car,” Mafusire said.

The State alleges Mashangwa received $116 000 in two batches for the importation and payment of customs duty for the vehicle, but did not pay the requisite duty resulting in PHD paying $36 000 to revenue authorities after the car was seized.

Mafusire told the court that he believed Mashangwa could deliver the vehicle because he had seen him with high-end cars such as a Range Rover Sport, a Mercedes-Benz ML model and an Audi Q7.

He conceded under cross-examination that he did not know how the cars were imported into the country nor did he know the seized Audi Q7’s registration number, colour or its interior.

Mafusire also admitted he was not known to Mushininga, Mapfumo and Gonde.

When the case adjourned last time, defence lawyer Dumisani Mtombeni made an application to have Magaya called to testify as they believed he was a crucial witness in the matter.

But magistrate Noel Mupeiwa ruled that he would make a determination on whether Magaya should come or not.

Liberty Gono appeared for the State. The trial continues tomorrow.