Chronicle Editor
Brenda Zinyuke, Court Reporter
A Bulawayo man allegedly conned three people of nearly $600 000 on separate occasions after he claimed he could source United States dollars for them at affordable rates.
Batsirai Ganyaupfu (37) of Queens Park East suburb lied that he was in charge of cashiers at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport. He then swindled Mr Nkululeko Masuku, Mr Moshi Nyarambi and Mr Philemon Mushore.
It is alleged that Mr Masuku transferred $150 000 while Mr Nyarambi transferred $189 790 into Ganyaupfu’s bank account.
Mr Mushore allegedly transferred $239 500 into the same account.
Ganyaupfu was not asked to plead to three counts of fraud when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Adelaide Mbeure.
He was remanded to March 30 on $2 000 bail. Ganyaupfu is being represented by Mr Task Vhiki of Liberty Mcijo and Associates.
Prosecuting, Mr Denmark Chihombe said sometime in January this year, Ganyaupfu met the three complainants on different occasions and told them that he worked at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport manning Immigration Department, Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) and Puma Departments. “On each occasion the accused person met the complainants, he was wearing a shirt with a CAAZ official badge and this made the complainants believe he worked at the airport. He told the complainants that he was in charge of cashiers and could secure foreign currency for them at affordable rates,” said Mr Chihombe.
The complainants allegedly transferred the money into Ganyaupfu’s bank account but never received the promised United State dollars. Mr Chihombe said after the fraud, Ganyaupfu’s mobile number was no longer reachable. The matter was reported to the police leading to Ganyaupfu’s arrest last Thursday. The total value of money he defrauded the three complainants was $579 290 and nothing was recovered. – @zinyuke98
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