The presiding magistrate is anticipated to render a decision on an application for discharge after the conclusion of the State’s case.
The trial in which betting company Bezbets is accused of defrauding a gambler who placed a bet and earned US$5, 400, is scheduled to resume on Wednesday.
Detective Walter Muri, the investigating officer, admitted to the court last week that the business had misled the plaintiff.
Detective Muri confirmed to the court that a ticket exists proving the complainant wagered and earned $5,400, which Bezbets is refusing to reimburse.
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The claim made was false: the Bezbets system predicted that the gambler would earn US$5400 after placing the bet.
Detective Muri said in court that he could not find any written evidence that Bezbets never places bets larger than US$50.
Detective Muri’s primary evidence led the State to close its case.
The complainant maintained from the beginning of the trial that he had been cheated of his money after winning a wager.
The bettor informed Mr. Kandiero that Bezbets abruptly altered the guidelines after realising he had won a wager.
After that, Bezbets deleted my account to stop the proof. I declined their offer of US$1 800 because I had already won US$5400,” the man stated.
The punter further informed the court that Bezbets had filed a countercharge of fraud against him in an attempt to hide the offence, but that allegation was dropped during the screening process.
“I have been betting more than $50 for almost two years and have lost a lot of money, but on October 26, 2023, I won a bet, and Bezbets wouldn’t pay me.”
“Their roulette system allows you to play any amount up to US$10,000; there is nowhere on it that says US$50 is the maximum stake per bet,” he claimed.
The gambler further claimed that after recognising he had won, Bezbets had orally explained to him the maximum investment of US$50 per wager.
Robson Chinamasa, Bezbets’ manager, is in charge of the company.
When Chinamasa first appeared before Mr. Simon Kandiyero, he entered a not guilty plea on the company’s behalf to the fraud charges.
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Mr. Thomas Chanakira, the prosecutor, said that the plaintiff wagered $394 on roulette on October 26 on the Bezbets online platform.
The site offered a $5,400 possible reward if the wager was successful. However, the business engaged the plaintiff with the intention of paying him US$1,800 but refused to pay him once he won.
Samkange Legal Practitioners and Brighton Pabwe from Venturas are Bezbets’ solicitors.
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