Businessman freed in US$35K scam

BUSINESSMAN Bernard Chiweshe who was sucked in a US$35 000 fraud scam involving money transfer has been freed by the court.

This is after the prosecution failed to bring him to trial resulting in the court removing him from remand.

This means that as things stand, he is a free man.

Chiweshe who is the director of Maleads Incorporated was alleged to have connived with one Lynette Chihwai and one Panshe in the said scam.

The State alleged that on March 15 2024, the trio contacted Francis Nyika and misrepresented to him that they wanted US$76 792 in exchange for transfer of the same amount in a nostro bank account.

Nyika reportedly informed the complainant who was interested in the deal and ordered the transfer to be done first before he could release the money.

It was alleged that the trio manufactured a fake proof of payment [POP] which purported as if a transfer of US$76 792 had been made.

The complainant was reluctant to release payment citing that the money had not been reflected into his company account mentioned above.

Reports were that the suspects went to the complainant’s office to collect payment knowing that no transfer had been made.

It was alleged that Chiweshe misrepresented to the complainant that the proof of payment was genuine and he gave US$20 000 to Chihwayi and Panashe.

It was alleged that on March 18, Chiweshe reassured the complainant that his transfer was going to be effected and the complainant further released US$15 000 to his accomplices.

The complainant later discovered that the proof of payment was fake and reported the case to the Police.