Pokugara trial stalls as accused falls ill

THE trial of proprietors of Pokugara Properties, a land developing company and their alleged accomplices on a malicious damage to property charge failed to resume on Wednesday because one of the accused, Michael van Blerk, was ill and could not walk into the courtroom.

Van Blerk and his alleged accomplices Ken Sharpe, Mandla Marlone Ndebele, as well as Hosiah Chisango, Isaiah Zvenyika Chawatama, Samuel Nyabezi and Lasten Taonezvi, who are Harare City Council officials, are being accused of malicious destruction of a showhouse constructed by rival property developer Georgios Katsimberis in 2018.

Prosecutor Zivanai Macharaga from the Special Anti-Corruption Unit yesterday submitted an application before magistrate Estere Chivasa that van Blerk be examined by a government doctor to ascertain his medical condition.

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