Online ReporterDanisa Masuku
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A bursar at Foundation Group of Colleges, Witness Ncube (44), is on trial for allegedly attempting to fraudulently acquire a client’s house after tricking her into signing a fake agreement of sale.
Ncube appeared before Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Mr Lungile Ncube for the continuation of his trial. He is accused of forging a client’s signature on documents purporting that she had offered her house as collateral for a loan.
Testifying in court, a key witness, Mr Mzingami Masina, said he had approached Ncube seeking a loan and was instructed to bring his mother to sign the necessary documents.
“I approached Ncube requesting a loan and he told me to call my mother to sign the papers. When she came, she was tricked into signing an agreement of sale as if she had agreed to offer her house as collateral. My mother cannot read, so she signed the document without understanding,” said Masina.
He added that Ncube indicated the loan would attract interest of US$800 per month.
The investigating officer told the court that investigations revealed that Ncube allegedly used a fake agreement of sale in an attempt to fraudulently acquire the complainant’s house.
The complainant, Ms Elidah Ncube (58), and her son are being represented by Mr Task Vhiki of Task Vhiki Attorneys.
Prosecutor Mr Sehliselo Khumalo said the incident 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 allegedly 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.
It is alleged that on 7 July 2022, Ncube forged the complainant’s signature on a fake agreement of sale and an acknowledgement of debt, inserting false details to claim ownership of her Nkulumane house, valued at US$28 000.
The alleged 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.
The matter was postponed to April 15.
Ends
