Online Reporter
Dalyn Chigwizura, Zimpapers Writer
A 58-YEAR-OLD bogus estate agent from Harare has been sentenced to five years in prison after defrauding a diasporan of US$11 000 which was part of the money realised from selling the diasporan’s house.
Casper Mutenda of Glen View suburb, was convicted on his own plea of guilty to theft of trust property by Western Commonage regional magistrate Mrs Sibongile Marondedze.
He was sentenced to five years in prison but part of the sentence was suspended on several conditions. One year was suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence during the next five years. A further two years were suspended on condition that Mutenda restitutes the complainant, Mr George Riva US$11 000 through the Clerk of court before November 28.
The remaining two years were suspended on condition that Mutenda performs 630 hours of community service at Budiriro Police Station in Harare starting today.
Prosecuting, Mr Milton Moyo told the court that sometime in 2021, Mr Riva, who is based in Australia, engaged Mutenda to sell his house in Njube suburb, Bulawayo for US$22 000 and to deposit the proceeds into his account.
Mutenda sold the house and received the full payment, but only deposited US$11 000, claiming that the buyer still owed the balance.
“Mutenda lied to the complainant that the buyer had not yet completed payment and that he would remit the remaining US$11 000 later,” said Mr Moyo.
When Mr Riva later returned to Zimbabwe, he found the new homeowner already occupying the property. The buyer produced proof of full payment to Mutenda, prompting Mr Riva to confront him. Mutenda allegedly began avoiding him and ignored his calls, leading the complainant to file a police report leading to the arrest of the accused.
