A FORMER Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe (AFM) pastor for Madziwa assembly, Strange Mutara (49), was acquitted of a fraud charge he was facing by Bindura magistrate Maria Msika yesterday.
By Simbarashe Sithole
Mutara was freed after the State failed to produce compelling evidence to nail him.
The prosecution, led by Edward Katsvairo, had alleged that on November 29 last year, Mutara was defrocked and forced to resign together with Christopher Rusere, who was a church administrator.
The two were signatories to AFM (Madziwa) First Capital Bank Bindura branch account.
The former pastor allegedly hatched a plan to forge Rusere’s signatures in order to access the church’s bank account.
On December 19 and 29 last year, he allegedly withdrew some money from the church’s account.
On January 7 and 22 this year, the prosecution alleged he withdrew some money again.
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He allegedly withdrew $320 and transferred $77 to Nyaradzo Life Assurance Company.
The church, however , discovered the alleged fraud and filed a police report, leading to Mutara and Rusere’s arrest.
Rusere then told the investigating officers that his signature had been forged.
