A Harare court cleared one man but ordered another to defend himself against fraud charges on Monday. Provincial Magistrate Lisa Mutendereki said Brian Murphy must testify Thursday about forged company papers. His partner Adam Wood walked free after prosecutors failed to prove his guilt. The case involves property that belonged to Brian James Rhodes, whose family connects to British colonial figure Cecil Rhodes. Both men faced accusations of faking documents to steal valuable real estate.
Murphy and Wood allegedly submitted false paperwork to take control of Karoi Properties. The company owns several commercial properties along Mutare Road in Harare. Prosecutors claim the men forged a CR14 form that registers company directors. They changed the death date of Brian Rhodes from 2006 to 2012 to confuse officials. The fake documents also said another director had quit the company.
Elizabeth Mucheche discovered the fraud during her work as estate executor. She found the paperwork contained lies about Rhodes and the company leadership. Brian Rhodes died in 2006 and left property to multiple family members through his will. The estate went through legal processes for years before Mucheche took charge. Court records show Murphy worked for Veracity, the company that submitted the false information.
Murphy and Wood allegedly submitted false paperwork to take control of Karoi Properties. The company owns several commercial properties along Mutare Road in Harare. Prosecutors claim the men forged a CR14 form that registers company directors. They changed the death date of Brian Rhodes from 2006 to 2012 to confuse officials. The fake documents also said another director had quit the company.
Elizabeth Mucheche discovered the fraud during her work as estate executor. She found the paperwork contained lies about Rhodes and the company leadership. Brian Rhodes died in 2006 and left property to multiple family members through his will. The estate went through legal processes for years before Mucheche took charge. Court records show Murphy worked for Veracity, the company that submitted the false information.
