Biti ‘Assault Case’, Sharpe’s Associate Dodges Critical Questions
By Staff Reporter
Controversial business woman and West Properties chief operations officer Tatiana Aleshina last Friday dodged questions relating to Augur Investments OU, a company that was controversially awarded tender to construct the Harare Airport.
Aleshina is accusing constitutional lawyer-cum politician Tendai Biti of assaulting her outside Harare Magistrates Court premises in November 2020, claims that the veteran lawyer has dismissed.
She was being cross examined by Biti’s lawyer, Alec Muchadehama who asked questions pertaining to her shoddy business dealings involving the controversial which she used to defraud City of Harare vast tracks of prime land worth US$2 million.
“Can you confirm that your company Augur Investments OU entered in agreement with City of Harare to Construct Harare Airport Road in 2007 but failed to do the work and you demanded huge tracks of land from that?”, Muchadehama said.
“Your Worship I do not want to answer questions about Augur Investments OU.
“I cannot discuss it; I have no authority to talk about it. I have no authority to talk about it.” Aleshina said
The verbal assault charges are intricately linked to a number of cases involving Augur Investments OU, West Properties and Pokugara Properties where Biti was representing his clients.
Biti is representing companies that are suing Augur Investments OU for fraud.
“The questions I am asking about Augur are relevant to the case and I want to prove that the complainant is capitalizing on the accused to get back to him for his role in representing companies that are suing the complainant,” Muchadehama said.
In response, Aleshina declined to answer the lawyer’s question.
“I will not be able to answer questions which are not linked to the assault case, i am here for the assault case and i am mother of 5,” she said.
Aleshina also failed to explain about her controversial business dealings and her nationality.
“Can you confirm to the Court that you’re a Russian national?”, Muchadehama asked.
“I was born and grew up in Ukraine but i have a Russian Passport”, said Aleshina.
Cases involving Aleshina and Ken Sharpe’s aligned companies have had a fair share of dramas amid claims of Judicial Capture by complainants.
