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Court Reporter
An Indian businesswoman and her son appeared in court yesterday for allegedly duping a Harare man of $400 000 after disposing of her late husband’s restaurant that was part of an unregistered estate.

Nighert Parween Savania (62) and her son, Deen Savania (33), are facing fraud charges.

The pair pleaded not guilty before Harare magistrate Ms Tendai Rusinahama.

The matter was remanded to tomorrow.

The court heard that Savania is the widow of Mahendra Savania, who was the director of Norwhich Trading Company.

Norwhich Trading is a duly registered company with interests in the hospitality and catering business.

The firm owns a building situated at No. 750 Gaydon Road, Greystone Park, Harare.

Prosecuting, Ms Venancia Mutake alleged that after Mahendra’s death on March 9, 2010 Savania took over the business.

It is alleged that sometime in 2011 Savania and her son connived to sell the business.

She misrepresented to the complainant that she owned 100 shares of the company and that she was the sole beneficiary, yet there were other shareholders.

The court heard that Savania kept it a secret that Norwhich Trading was part of the deceased estate, which was yet to be registered with the Master of the High Court.

She also did not disclose that 29 shares were held by other people, it is alleged.

The parties agreed to a purchase price of $350 000 and agreed on a payment plan. It is alleged that between August 2011 and January 6, 2012 the complainant paid a total of $250 000 to Savania, leaving a balance of $130 000.

The court heard that the complainant injected a capital of $210 000 into the business.

Later, the complainant went to the Registrar of Companies to regularise the purchase and realised that Savania and his son were not shareholders.

To cover up the offence, Savania went to register the estate of her late husband and an executor is yet to be appointed.

The complainant lost $460 000 and nothing was recovered.