Former Finance Minister Tendai Biti returned to court today for a pre-sentence hearing in the case in which he was found guilty of verbally assaulting Russian businesswoman Tatiana Aleshina.
Aleshina is affiliated with Westprop Holdings and is in an ongoing dispute with Biti’s client Georgios Katsimberis.
Betty was found guilty after a full trial conducted by Harare Regional Magistrate, Fungai Muchochoti-Gworero, who ruled that people could not be allowed to contact other people with their “identities” and walk freely.
The senior barrister was initially taken to court in 2020 and refused to plead the charge, arguing that the charge was flawed but a not guilty plea was later entered.
“The accused (Betty) appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to the charge but a plea of not guilty was entered.
“The history of the matter is that he cited the charge in July 2020 saying the charge was flawed saying there was no physical contact between him and Tatiana.
“Then he submitted a request for referral to the Constitutional Court, raising several issues, and the request took a full year in which he recounted various constitutional violations.
“The application has been dismissed by this court and is pending in the Supreme Court. A second application has been filed before this court and the appeal is pending.
“He further said that the charge is so broad and so vague that it is essentially meaningless
It violates the principles of legality.
“It appears that despite the court rulings he wants this court to amend its ruling on the constitutional question, it is puzzling that he has not exercised his right to direct contact with the Constitutional Court.” Muchukuti said. h metro
