FORMER radio and television personality Tichafa Matambanadzo, popularly known as Tich Mataz — accused of swindling his employer, Star FM of $126 000 — is set to stand trial on December 3 this year after the State realised the matter had erroneously been set for trial over the weekend. CHARLES LAITON Staff reporter
Mataz was summoned to appear before the court last Friday to rectify the anomaly and he appeared before regional magistrate Sandra Mupindu in the company of his lawyer Dumisani Mtombeni.
The disc jockey–cum–businessman is facing allegations of defrauding his employer through a scheme in which he allegedly converted advertising revenue for his personal use.
He is being charged with fraud as defined under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and is out of custody on $300 bail.
The State alleges Matambanadzo misrepresented to some clients that Star FM did not have the capacity to produce certain programmes and claimed he was an agent for the broadcaster through Hamtech Investments and Onesay Investments.
It is alleged he then allegedly created fraudulent letters using Star FM’s letterheads purporting the radio station had contracted Hamtech and Onesay to create adverts on its behalf.
Consequently, the court heard that organisations, including Copac, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, the European Union, the US Embassy, Ster Kinekor and OK Zimbabwe, approached Hamtech and Onesay and placed their adverts, which were later produced and advertised by Star FM at a total cost $104 932,80.
It is further alleged that Star FM was also prejudiced through the barter deals entered into with Goldtech and Cellone Electronics in which the radio station would provide radio air time for the said companies in exchange for electrical gadgets such as laptops and cellphones worth $21 807 which Matambanadzo converted to his own use.
