The defence case of Michael Gordon Smith, a former employee at MA Auto Suppliers, has exposed several inconsistencies during his cross-examination.
Smith, stand accused of defrauding the company of at least US$38 000 and R124 000, is facing two counts of theft of trust property, 12 counts of fraud, and 25 counts of corruptly concealing transactions from his principal, Mr Michael Scott Asher.
Sometime in November 2020, Smith awarded himself a US$10,000 loan without informing company officials forcing the firm to cover the full repayment without any trace of the funds.
During a cross examination by Prosecutor, Anesu Chirenje in his defense case, Smith admitted before the court that he was managing the loan away from the company’s books in the finance department.
He also corfimed that he received the US10.000 cash from another employee Mr. Madzinga.
Smith also backtracked his previous testimony when he claimed to have been denied access to his gadgets by the state.
He admitted that he never approached state to get gadgets, saying he personally never approached the state to give him access to the gadgets.
Extracted audios, whatsapp communications between accused and people he was conniving with revealed that he committed the offence.
Police detectives from cyber department also tendered laboratory report plus flash disc with attachments linked to crimes Smith is facing.
Smith faces a litany of charges including two counts of theft of trust property, 12 counts of fraud and 25 counts of corruptly concealing transactions from his principal.
The matter has been remanded to
On second count, Smith was asked about US$10 000 loan that he received from a lender and he denied to have received the loan personally, saying it was given to the company through another employee, Mr Madzinga Mukoto.
He claimed the funds were used as initial capital for stock to a new shop.
The State flaged incostistancies in Smith’s testimony, especially regarding the company records keeping and finance.
When asked why the US$10 000 transaction was not recorded in the company’s cash book, Smith said a separate spreadsheet had been created for the outdoor store’s operations.
Yet the spreadsheet was not produced in court, with Smith claiming he had been denied access to his laptop containing the records.….
