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A bogus Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement official who defrauded desperate homeseekers of their money through botched stand deals has appeared in court.
Bright Murandamaoko (45) was facing four counts of fraud when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Dennis Mangosi.
He was remanded in custody to tommorow for bail application.
The court heard that on a date unknown to the prosecutor, but in September 2020, Murandamaoko misrepresented to Bryan Jokonya that he was an operative from the Criminal Intelligence Organisation attached to the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement and could organise land for him upon payment of money and he received US$12 000 which he diverted to his own use.
It is alleged that sometime during that same month, Murandamaoko misrepresented to Tawanda Masanganise that he was a Ministry of Lands official who could facilitate allocation of land to him upon payment of a fee.
He was then given US$5 000 by Masanganise which he also diverted to his own use.
It is the State’s case that during that same period, Murandamaoko misrepresented to Admire Mupindi who was looking for agricultural land that he was able to facilitate allocation of land to him upon payment of facilitation fees and he was given US$550. He went on to show him a 6 hectare plot at Hamilton Farm in Mashonaland Central Province.
Murandamaoko used the same modus operandi on the fourth complainant Takudzwa Sori and defrauded him of US$660.
Mrs Monalisa Magwenzi prosecuted.
Online Reporter