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State grills Katsimberis over “forged” document

Local News
Deputy Prosecutor-General Michael Reza told the court today that Katsimberis allegedly submitted forged documents claiming they contained information omitted from the official court transcript.

THE State has accused property developer George Katsimberis of forging a court record which he later submitted as a court transcript in his fraud trial.

Deputy Prosecutor-General Michael Reza told the court today that Katsimberis allegedly submitted forged documents claiming they contained information omitted from the official court transcript.

Reza raised the issue while cross-examining Katsimberis over his application for referral to the Constitutional Court.

The property developer claims he is receiving an unfair trial and wants the matter referred to the ConCourt.

However, Reza took Katsimberis to task over exhibit number 27 which was filed by his lawyer Tino Chinyoka which pointed to the alleged missing part.

Reza asked Katsimberis why the document did not have the signatures of the magistrate and the court transcriber to authenticate it.

When Katsimberis failed to explain the anomaly, Reza accused him of submitting a forged document to scandalize the court.

"You created this document. There is nothing official in this document. You forged and submitted it in court because you want to scandalize the court," Reza said.

He added: "l put it to you that there is no right of yours that has been infringed. This trial has been done above board, rules have been followed and nothing can be referred to the ConCourt."

But, Katsimberis insisted that most of his rights were violated.

Katsimberis once pleaded with the court to avail a Greek interpreter saying he was not quite conversant with English, but the application was dismissed for lack of merit.

During cross-examination, Katsimberis told the court that he attended two local educational institutions and a South African university whose mode of communication is English.

The matter was postponed to Monday for the continuation of the trial.

Katsimberis is being accused of building a showroom in Borrowdale, Harare, without an approved plan resulting in its demolition by the local authority.

Katsimberis was involved in a joint venture project with a fellow property developer who has since taken him to court for fraud.

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