Bulawayo bursar gets community service for forgery in house fraud case

A bursar at the Foundation Group of Colleges, Witness Ncube (44), has been convicted and sentenced to perform 630 hours of community service for attempting to fraudulently acquire a client’s house using a forged signature.

Ncube appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Lungile Ncube for sentencing on Monday.
The magistrate sentenced him to 36 months in prison, suspending 12 months on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within five years.

The remaining 24 months were suspended on condition that he performs 630 hours of community service at Bulawayo Central Police Station.
In passing sentence, the magistrate said the State, represented by Mr Sehliselo Khumalo, had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

“The forensic report presented as evidence showed that the accused forged the signature of the complainant in a bid to fraudulently take her house. It was proved in court that the accused altered US$2 000, which was a loan given to the complainant’s son, to US$28 000 so as to fraudulently take her house, which was used as collateral to secure the loan,” said the magistrate.

In aggravation, Mr Khumalo said forgery is a serious offence and that the accused used fraudulent means in an attempt to unlawfully take the complainant’s house.

“The matter plunged the complainant into stress because she was constantly threatened with eviction. His behaviour showed that he is a dishonest man and I pray for a custodial sentence,” said Mr Khumalo.

The complainant, Ms Elidah Ncube (58), and her son are being represented by Mr Task Vhiki of Task Vhiki Attorneys.
Prosecutor Mr Khumalo said the offence occurred in July 2022 when Ms Ncube, accompanied by her son, approached the accused at his workplace seeking a US$2 000 loan.

The court heard that although Ncube agreed to provide the loan at an interest of US$800, he only gave the complainant US$1 700, claiming that US$300 had been deducted for legal fees.

“The complainant signed for the money she received but was never given a copy of the loan agreement,” said Mr Khumalo.
On July 7, 2022, Ncube forged the complainant’s signature on a fraudulent agreement of sale and an acknowledgement of debt, inserting false details to claim ownership of her Nkulumane house, valued at US$28 000.

The fraud came to light when Ncube presented the documents at the Western Commonage Court and the Tredgold Civil Court as proof of ownership.

Suspicious of the documents, the complainant reported the matter to the police. Samples of her genuine signature were taken for forensic analysis, and a document examiner later confirmed that the signature had been forged.