By A Correspondent| The trial of businessman Clark Makoni and his wife, Beverly, continued Friday at the Harare Magistrates’ Court, where a bank manager testified that he first met the couple when they sought to change signatories for Valley Lodge (Pvt) Ltd.

The Makonis are facing fraud charges for allegedly seizing control of the company from former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono and his daughter, Passion Gono, through fraudulent documentation.

Mutare ZB Bank branch manager Tonderai Karumbidza told the court he met the couple in 2017 when they approached the bank to alter account signatories.

“As part of the process, I provided them with the 14A form and the 14J6 form, which outlines requirements for signatories. They also submitted Know Your Customer (KYC) documents for processing,” Karumbidza said.

The State alleges that while ZB Bank records list the Makonis as directors, official company registration documents identify Gono and his daughter as the rightful directors.

The couple’s lawyer argued that the State must prove the Makonis authored the disputed documents and called for a handwriting analysis. However, Magistrate Stanford Mambanje dismissed the objection, saying the bank manager’s testimony established the couple’s involvement in the process.

“The State is not alleging the accused authored the documents but relies on the bank manager’s testimony regarding their submission,” Mambanje ruled.

Prosecutor Heather Mowokoto submitted the bank forms as evidence, and the trial was adjourned to Feb. 28.

According to the State, the complainant—Valley Lodge (Pvt) Ltd—hired the Makonis’ company, Ark Properties (Pvt) Ltd, in July 2017 to manage its operations. The prosecution alleges that on Aug. 10, 2017, the couple forged a CR14 form, appointing themselves as directors, and used the document to gain control of Valley Lodge’s bank accounts at ZB Bank Mutare.

The State claims the couple stole $137,736,500 from the company through their alleged fraudulent takeover.

-Online