HARARE – A Harare based lawyer Norman Mugiya, arrested on fraud charges worth US$99 000, was Wednesday granted ZW$200 000 bail by magistrate Dennis Mangosi.

Mugiya is accused of defrauding beneficiaries of one Jonah Shereni’s estate while acting in connivance with the now deceased’s wife, Yolanda Mututuma.

Mututuma is already on remand.

The complainant in the matter is an 18-year-old son of the late Shereni.

Court heard Shereni owned Rossa 10 Mine in Chiweshe.

According to State papers, on October 23 last year, Shereni died on the spot after he was involved in a road traffic accident in Bindura.

Court heard Shereni was once married to Kurai Marble Dick who is the mother to the complainant.

He had three children with his ex-wife.

When he passed on, Mututuma who is now the surviving spouse, allegedly teamed up with Mugiya and planned to defraud other estate beneficiaries.

Mugiya and Mututuma allegedly authored a Will purporting Shereni had prepared it and filed it at his law firm.

“The Will was appointing the accused as an Executor of the late Jonah Shereni’s Estate,” said prosecutors.

During the same period, Mututuma bought four properties for her husband’s first wife’s children using proceeds from the mine.

Court heard after buying the properties, Mugiya and Mututuma then included the newly acquired properties after the death of Shereni in the forged Will yet he passed on before buying the properties.

The two allocated the rest of properties acquired by Shereni, which include stand number 1520 Chiwaridzo Township, Bindura to Mututuma’s two sons.

Mututuma was awarded Rosa 10 Mine, a house in Farikani Road, Aerodrome Bindura, Nissan Cabster, Ford Ranger, Nissan Truck and Nissan UD80 and all assets which were registered in Shereni’s name at the time of his death.

Court further heard, on May 3 this year, Mututuma went to the Master of High Court, Harare and registered the Estate of her late husband under DR 1414/22.

On the 11″ day of May this year, Mugiya went to the Master of High Court and filed the forged Will with intent to defraud other beneficiaries of the late Jonah Shereni’s Estate.

In June this year, the complainant discovered the offence and reported the matter to police.

By means of this misrepresentation, the accused persons caused the other beneficiaries potential prejudice of US$99 000.

Mugiya is also accused of violating the Insurance Act.

He will be back in court on November 21.