Court Dismisses Former Governor's Appeal Against Ruling On Corruption Charges
The High Court has dismissed former Midlands Governor, Jason Machaya’s application for a review of a ruling which trashed his application for acquittal in his corruption case.
Machaya is jointly charged with former Midlands Provincial Planning Officer, Chisainyerwa Chibururu with criminal abuse of office after they allegedly unlawfully diverted over 1 000 stands belonging to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development for personal benefit.
High Court judge, Pisirayi Kwenda dismissed Machaya’s application saying that Gweru magistrate, Charity Maphosa was correct in finding out that the two had a case to answer. He said:
There is no likelihood of any harm befalling the applicants which cannot be corrected by way of appeal or review after judgment by the trial court.
I am not persuaded that there are compelling reasons to interfere with the trial which is still in progress. In the result, I order as follows; this application be and is hereby dismissed.
The duo is said to have connived to offer and divert land to a company known as Striation World Marketing (Pvt) Ltd which in turn sold the stands to members of the public.
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