Former top cop, Augustine Chihuri who is accused of grabbing his former employee’s posh cars and properties has finally spoken out. Big...
Former top cop, Augustine Chihuri who is accused of grabbing
his former employee’s posh cars and properties has finally spoken out.
Bigboy Pachirera, is suing Chihuri for $3 million. But in a
letter to Pachirera’s lawyer Mr Rungano Mahuni, Chihuri, through his lawyers
Mutamangira and Associates Chihuri insists that the businessman voluntarily
handed over the contentious vehicles and properties as settlement for financial
losses that his businesses suffered when Pachirera — who was his employee — ran
a parallel business to his own.
Pachirera was employed at Chihuri’s company Kidsdale Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd as a
transport manager from 1998 to 2013. During the time, he registered a business
and subsequently began drawing down fuel from his company. He, however, did not
declare his interest.
“Without declaring interest, your client secretly
registered a transport company, Cheinpac Investments, offering the same
services as his employer. “Between February and June 2007, your client stole 49
500 litres of diesel meant for Kidsdale’s Shamva project. In 2011, Kidsdale was
contracted on the Harare-Bulawayo Road dualisation project.
“Your client, as the transport manager, contracted his two
tipper trucks alongside his employers trucks, drawing diesel from Kidsdale
Enterprises’ account at PaKarina Service Station. He drew 2 150 litres of
diesel valued at $2 795.”
The ex-police chief also claimed that between 2012 and
2013, Kidsdale was contracted on Harare-Mutare Road, particularly for the Ruwa
project, and, again, Pachirera allegedly used part of the $81 596,50 provided
for fuel to fund his company, causing his employer financial loss.
His contract was terminated as a result. Pachirera later
wrote a letter on January 15, 2014 begging Kidsdale to resolve the matter
amicably.
“He was very remorseful and willingly proposed to settle
the amounts he stole. He offered a Jeep Cherokee valued at $80 000 and ML 350
CDI valued at $160 000,” read the letter.
“In a letter dated January 24, 2014, he agreed to surrender
the Highfield property. As this could not satisfy his debt, your client
willingly offered his Scania tipper truck and a DAF tipper truck. At the
material time he had legal representation.
“The allegations by your client are baseless and your
demand for $2,968 million is also baseless. Your threat to approach the court
is groundless. This is a desperate attempt to extort money,” the letter adds.
However, Mr Mahuni noted that his client was coerced to
sign some papers by the police.
“All the papers allegedly signed by my client were
commissioned by the police, precisely the officer commanding CID Homicide,
Harare,” said Mr Mahuni.
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