FORMER Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko’s son, Siqokoqela’s trial failed to take off again yesterday after witnesses, who were said to be in India for holiday defaulted again, leading to the postponement of the case.
BY SILAS NKALA
Siqokoqela (40), represented by Welshman Ncube, appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Trynos Utahwashe facing 170 counts of fraud, which he allegedly committed at Choppies Supermarket where he was a co-director.
He is denying the charges and the matter was yesterday remanded to March 5 after the State, represented by Jethro Mada, asked for another postponement after State witnesses failed to show up in court.
On January 21, the State requested another postponement, saying the witnesses were holed up in India following the violent protests that rocked the country.
Siqokoqela, a director of Nanavac Pvt Ltd, a former partner of the Botswana-registered Choppies Distribution Centre (Proprietary) Limited, is out of custody on $200 bail.
He is accused of hijacking the Choppies retail business and “looting” $51 945,53 in cash and goods from the outlets countrywide without board approval between July 2017 and June 2018.
