adminShamiso Dzingire Court Reporter
A 46-YEAR-OLD man from Bulawayo has been arrested for “defrauding” three men of about $28,000. Raymond Murisa of Tshabalala suburb allegedly misrepresented to the men, including a maize supplier, that he was in the business of buying and selling maize before ordering 90 tonnes of maize which he did not pay for.
Murisa appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Tancy Dube facing three counts of fraud.
He pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody to August 26 for commencement of trial.
Prosecuting, Sibekithemba Dube said sometime in July, Murisa approached Samuel Mambiro Mlambo, a self-employed carpenter along Welbeck Road in Thorngrove.
She said Murisa misrepresented to Mlambo that he was in the business of buying and selling maize and requested for a warehouse to keep 90 tonnes of maize.
“He further indicated that the maize was in transit from Zambia to his clients and offered to pay $600 for the warehouse,” she said.
Between August 7 and 8, the court heard, Murisa delivered the maize to Mlambo’s workplace.
“Mlambo warehoused the maize but Murisa didn’t pay for the services rendered, contrary to their agreement,” Dube said.
On August 1, the court heard, Murisa called Members of Foods Director, Bulisani Tshuma and misrepresented to him that his company, Lanoth Enterprises, trading as Trade World Private Limited, was in the business of buying and selling maize at Welbeck Road, Thorngrove.
Murisa allegedly ordered 90 tonnes of maize from Tshuma and promised to pay after three working days.
“Tshuma believed his story and supplied 90 tonnes of maize costing $27,239,70,” Dube said.
Dube added that after three working days, Tshuma made a follow up on his payment and Murisa started giving excuses.
The court heard how on August 8, Murisa hired Newman Mafe to transport 30 tonnes of maize from Bulawayo to Plumtree and was charged $450.
“Murisa promised to pay upon delivery of the consignment and Mafe transported the maize to Plumtree but Murisa didn’t pay,” Dube told the court.
The court heard that Tshuma became suspicious when Murisa kept shifting the date for payment and made a police report on August 21.
Dube said: “Murisa was arrested on the same day following a tip off. Further investigations revealed that the warehouse at Welbeck Road doesn’t belong to him but to Samuel Mambiro Mlambo.”
The total value of the goods lost is $28,289,70 and only goods worth $19,955 were recovered.
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Bongani Ndlovu