adminThey allegedly committed the offences between September last year and 28 March this year, where they would allegedly buy goods, mostly chickens and airtime recharge cards using counterfeit $100 notes and get change in real money.
Ndlovu and Johannes also face other charges of theft, assault and attempted murder.
Ndlovu and Johannes, Tapson Moyo (44), of 1528 Cowdray Park, Eria Maphosa (24), of 30099/4 in Entumbane and Webster Shuvai (37) of F27 Njube, were arrested last week for allegedly going on a buying spree in Bulawayo’s eastern and western suburbs using fake hundred dollar notes and getting change in real money.
They were not formally charged with fraud when they appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Shepherd Mjanja yesterday.
They were remanded in custody to tomorrow.
In the pending cases, Ndlovu and Johannes had been given up to the end of last month to restitute complainants while on bail but defaulted.
They were arrested after they allegedly continued with their fraudulent activities in connivance with Moyo, Maphosa and Shuvai and when more complainants opened fresh charges against them.
Police believe there are others who are still at large raising fears hundreds of people might have fallen for their “dirty tricks” and investigations are continuing.
Ndlovu has been implicated in two counts of fraud, Johannes three, Moyo eight, Shuvai six and Maphosa 15, where they would allegedly move around buying goods using fake money and getting change in real money before driving off at high speed.
They would move in a Toyota Camry driven by one of them.
It is alleged that on 16 October Ndlovu, Moyo and Johannes bought a stove from Ms Virginia Nkanyezi for $15 and paid using a fake $100 note.
They were given $85 change and sped off.
On another day, they allegedly bought airtime recharge cards valued at $20 from one Senziwa Mjikwa and used a fake $100 note.
The complainants would notice that the money was fake after the accused people would have left.
Johannes faces another offence he committed alone on 2 March this year when he bought two chickens and a pint of sour milk from Mr Trymen Ndiweni and went away after getting $85 change in real money.
It is the State’s case that between 29 November 2011 and 28 March this year Maphosa defrauded nine people from whom he bought different kinds of goods using counterfeit notes.
On six other occasions, Maphosa allegedly connived with Moyo and Shuvai where they defrauded people between 14 April and November last year.
In some instances they would just ask for change for $100 and disappear after completing their “fake deals”.
The total amount the accused persons defrauded was $1 670 and nothing was recovered.
The car is being held by the police as exhibit while investigations continue.
Mr Masimba Saruwaka appeared for the State.
Online Reporter