Star Lotto, punter case postponed

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BULAWAYO High Court judge Justice Nokuthula Moyo indefinitely postponed judgment in the case involving gambling venture Star Lotto for allegedly refusing to pay a Bulawayo punter his winning jackpot prize of $306 000.

BULAWAYO High Court judge Justice Nokuthula Moyo indefinitely postponed judgment in the case involving gambling venture Star Lotto for allegedly refusing to pay a Bulawayo punter his winning jackpot prize of $306 000.

RICHARD MUPONDE SENIOR COURT REPORTER

Star Lotto is owned by Letina Undenge, the wife of Finance deputy minister Samuel Undenge.

The punter Kumbirai Ruguva’s ticket was drawn as the winner of the whopping jackpot in August 2013, but Star Lotto reneged on its obligation to pay him.

Ruguva’s lawyers T Hara and Partners yesterday confirmed the indefinite postponement of the matter.

“We appeared before the judge (Justice Moyo) last week on Janaury 31 and she indefinitely postponed her judgement. However, we are hoping that the judgment could be out around the middle of this month,” the lawyers said.

The gambling establishment reportedly withheld Ruguva’s jackpot prize on the pretext that he should first submit an investment plan for approval to ensure prudent investment of his rich pickings.

However, Ruguva approached the High Court in November last year seeking an order forcing Star Lotto to immediately release his windfall arguing that an investment plan was not part of the terms and conditions of playing the lotto.

Undenge launched the gambling venture in November 2012 as an offshoot of her textile manufacturing company Panache Enterprises, which she established in Bulawayo in 2002 before relocating to Harare.