adminBredenkamp, was also charged with borrowing foreign currency from an unauthorised dealer without authority from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ).
The Mazowe-based businessman, was not formally charged when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Donald Ndirowei, who remanded him out of custody to September 9 for trial at the High Court on US$2 000 bail.
Prosecutor Tungamirai Chakurira alleges that sometime in 2002, Bredenkamp allegedly swindled former Sahawi International director, one Yaqub Ibrahim Mohammed of US$4 212 123, after acquiring a loan from him.
Mohammed is said to have acquired the huge sums of cash through a cigarette manufacturing firm, Sahawi International based in South Africa.
At the material time, Bredenkamp allegedly misrepresented to Mohammed that he would pay him back once he sold his mine, Kababankola Mining Company, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The business transaction between Bredenkamp and Mohammed allegedly materialised in 2001, soon after the latter sold his cigarettes within Southern Africa region and obtained a substantial amount in foreign currency.
It is the State’s case that after realising Mr Mohammed could finance him, Bredenkamp approached him and requested for a loan which he was given at six percent interest per annum, capitalised monthly.
The whole transaction is alleged to have taken place at Bredenkamp’s office which is situated at number 124 Josiah Chinamano Avenue, Harare.
The State alleges, after receiving the cash, Bredenkamp misrepresented to Mohammed that he would pay back once his mine was sold but that never materialised.
Although the mine was later sold in 2006, it is alleged, Bredenkamp never fulfilled his promise but became evasive prompting Mohammed to report the matter.
The State also alleges that at the time Bredenkamp borrowed the foreign currency he had not sought authority from RBZ and by so doing contravened a section of the exchange control regulations.
Online Reporter