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Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Court Reporter
A TOP Bulawayo lawyer, Brighton Ndove, allegedly connived with an unidentified accomplice using a fake identify card and forged title deeds to sell a residential stand for $16 000 without the owner’s knowledge.

Bulawayo magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya heard this when Ndove of Burnside suburb appeared before him facing fraud charges.

Ndove, who is a senior partner at Ndove, Museta and Partners law firm in the city, allegedly connived with an accomplice who claimed to be Sikhanyisiwe Phiri to defraud the complainant of his money.

He was remanded out of custody to November 3 on $100 bail following an application by his lawyer, Mr Mlweliwenkululeko Ncube of Ndove, Museta and Partners.

The State did not oppose bail, although it had proposed bail of $250 which the magistrate reduced.

Prosecuting, Miss Leanne Nkomo said on January 16 last year, Ms Simangaliso Muringi and Mr Edmund Makonese went to Ndove’s offices where the accused person introduced Mr Negion Majahana Moyo to a woman they said was Sikhanyisiwe Phiri, the registered “owner” of a residential stand which was on sale.

She said Ndove allegedly told Mr Moyo that Phiri was his long time client.

Phiri was in possession of a fake national identity card, registration number 66-295251-L-66, the court heard.

Miss Nkomo said the unsuspecting Mr Moyo was hoodwinked into believing that it was a genuine deal and out of trust, he paid Ndove $16 000 for the stand.

She said Ndove allegedly processed the change of ownership using forged documents.

“The actual value of the stand was $30 000,” said Miss Nkomo.

On realising that he had been duped, Mr Moyo reported the matter to the police leading to the arrest of Ndove.

Ndove was found in possession of fake title deeds and the fake identity card in the name of Phiri.

Earlier this month, another Bulawayo lawyer, Russell Dzete, was hauled before the courts for allegedly ganging up with three accomplices to sell a house in a fraudulent deal.

They allegedly forged title deeds which they used to sell a house in the city’s leafy Suburb residential area for $50 500 without the owner’s knowledge.

They allegedly placed an advert in a local newspaper purporting to be the owners of the property and put it up for sale.

The gang allegedly produced fake deeds of transfer and the unsuspecting complainant fell prey to the fraudsters and signed a memorandum of agreement of sale. The complainant transferred $50 500 into the law firm’s trust account.

Last year another prominent lawyer with the now defunct Cheda and Partners Law firm in Bulawayo, Mlamuli Ncube and three accomplices, allegedly forged powers of attorney and used them to sell two houses in the leafy suburbs of Burnside and Fortunes Gate for $75 000.

Ncube is now on the run after committing a series of fraud cases.

Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said the Government is worried about an increase in bogus and unscrupulous lawyers who are defrauding the public.

The VP, who oversees the Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry, said the Government had noted worrying reports of people who have lost money and properties to rogue lawyers.

@mashnets.