HARARE – Perjury accused aide to the controversial land baron Kenneth Raydon Sharpe, Michael John Van Blerk was yesterday slapped with a warranty of arrest after he failed to show up at the Harare Magistrates Court for routine remand.
Van Blerk is answering to charges of malicious damage to property after conniving with City of Harare Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango, his boss Ken Sharpe, Isaiah Zvenyika Chawatama and three others to destroy a showhouse built by Harare businessman George Katsimberis at at Plot 9 of 21 on consolidated stand number 19559 of 19828 Harare township Corner Teviotdale and Whitwell road, Borrowdale.
According to the state, the eight are facing charges of malicious damage to property as defined in section 140 of the criminal law ( codification and reform) Act chapter 9:23.
“In that on a date unknown to the prosecutor but during the period extending from July 2018 to October 2018 and at Plot 9 of 21 on consolidated stand number 19559 of 19828 Harare township Corner Teviotdale and Whitwell road, Borrowdale, Pokugara Properties (Private) Limited, Michael John Van Blerk, Mandla Marlone Ndebele, City of Harare, Hosiah Chisango, Isaiah Zvenyika Chawatama, Samuel Nyabezi, Lasten Taonezvi and Kenneth Raydon Sharpe who is still at large.
“One more of them, knowing that Georgios Katsimberis is entitled to own, possess or control any property or realising that there was a real risk or possibility that another person may be so entitled, damaged or destroyed the property intending to cause such damage or destruction or realising that there is a real risk or possibility that such damage or destruction may result from their act destroyed a show house which had been constructed by Georgios Katsimberis for a joint venture between Georgios Katsimberis and Kenneth Sharpe,” read the summons.
The state alleges that Van Blerk and two others contravened Section 136 of the criminal law (codification and Reform) Act chapter 9:23.
“In that on a date unknown to the prosecutor but during the period extending from July 2018 to September 2018 and at Harare, Pokugara Properties (Private) Limited, Michael John Van Blerk and Mandla Marlone Ndebele one or more of them misrepresented to City of Harare by failing or refusing to disclose that a house built on plot 9 of 21 on consolidated stand number 19559 of 19828 Harare township corner Teviotdale and Whitwell road, Borrowdale Harare was built with an approved plan dated 1 March 2017 plan WX609 and refused and or failed to advise the complainant Georgios Katsimberis that a show house that a show house that had been built on the above mentioned stand was facing demolition or need representation to stop demolitions before the accused persons started demolishing the house.”
