Staff Reporter
A warrant of arrest issued to controversial businessman Michael John Van Blerk has been cancelled by a Harare Magistrate after the accused turned up yesterday.
The businessman is facing charges of perjury and was issued with a warrant of arrest after he failed to appear before the Harare Magistrate Court last Friday.
He was remanded to May 11, 2021.
Van Blerk in his personal capacity and representing Pokugara Properties (Pvt) Ltd as its Managing Director is facing perjury charges after he allegedly filed a false written statement in case HC 8948/18 and lied in a sworn affidavit that a show house constructed by land developer George Katsimberis was built without approved building plan from the City of Harare.
Furthermore, either Van Blerk and or Pokugara Properties (Pvt) Ltd reportedly tendered a sworn affidavit in case HC8943/18 and lied that the applicant, George Katsimberis had constructed a show house on Stand 10 instead of Stand 9 yet, in fact, the show house was built on Stand 9.
It is further alleged that Van Blerk also lied in the same affidavit that Katsimberis applied for a building plan under plan MP6813/17 for approval of the building plan for Stand 9 when in actual fact it was him and or Pokugara Properties (Pvt) Ltd who made such an application for approval of building plan for Stand 8.
Van Blerk together with six others are also facing charges of malicious damage to property after destroying the very show houses they alleged were constructed without City of Harare approved plans.