Pastor Bothwell Phiri faces fraud charges after authorities arrested the River of Life International Church leader on July 14. Police detained the 57-year-old religious figure alongside Peter Brian Juma for allegedly selling inherited properties worth US$40,000 without proper authorization. Harare magistrate Ruth Moyo granted both men bail at US$100 each with their next court appearance scheduled for August 13. The complainant Gerald Juma claims the pair conspired to dispose of two houses left by their deceased father Enock Wilbert Juma in September 2005. Gerald held title deeds for the Bulawayo property while Peter managed the Harare residence documentation.
The brothers had not decided how to distribute the inherited assets among all family beneficiaries when Gerald became ill in 2011. Gerald entrusted the Bulawayo property documents to Peter for safekeeping during his medical treatment in South Africa. Prosecutors allege both men exploited their access to the title deeds and sold the properties for personal gain. Gerald discovered the unauthorized transactions and reported the matter to Harare Central police on June 13.
The brothers had not decided how to distribute the inherited assets among all family beneficiaries when Gerald became ill in 2011. Gerald entrusted the Bulawayo property documents to Peter for safekeeping during his medical treatment in South Africa. Prosecutors allege both men exploited their access to the title deeds and sold the properties for personal gain. Gerald discovered the unauthorized transactions and reported the matter to Harare Central police on June 13.
