GWERU magistrate Arnold Maburo yesterday ordered a bogus lawyer to pay back US$15 000 he defrauded a local woman in a botched divorce settlement.
Takunda Manjokota (37) misrepresented to Lindiwe Moyo that he was a legal practitioner and could assist her in an out-of-court divorce settlement with her husband Mthonzima Moyo.
He appeared in court facing two counts of theft of trust property and practising as a lawyer without registration, in violation of the Legal Practitioners’ Act.
In the first count, Maburo sentenced Manjokota to 20 months in jail and suspended three months on condition that he pays US$15 000 restitution to Lindiwe by June 30 this year.
In the second count, Manjokota was sentenced to 30 days in jail with the option of a US$200 fine.
The State case was that sometime in January 2023, Manjokota approached Lindiwe and masqueraded as a lawyer.
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The following month, the accused arranged a meeting between the estranged couple at an office in Gweru central business district.
According to the State, during the meeting, the parties agreed that Mthonzima would pay Lindiwe US$15 000 as part of the divorce settlement.
After agreeing that the couple would go to the Bulawayo High Court to amicably dissolve their marriage, Mthonzima transferred US$15 000 to Manjokota’s account.
A further US$1 500 was paid to him as legal fees.
Manjokota, however, converted the money to his personal use before he became evasive with regards to finalisation of the divorce.
A report was made to the police leading to his arrest and subsequent confirmation by the Law Society of Zimbabwe that he was not a registered legal practitioner.