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A HARARE businessman allegedly lost $5 million in a botched forex deal, a Harare court has heard.
Joachim Tasara Basira, who operates from Chinhoyi Street in Harare, allegedly lost the money to Gerald Pondai.
Pondai was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi.
Allegations are that Basira met Pondai and his alleged accomplice, Gerald Mapfumo, who has already appeared in court.
The duo reportedly told him that they wanted to pay duty to ZIMRA in local currency.
Pondai told Basira to deposit $5,4 million into his company account, promising to give him the equivalent in US dollars as soon as proof of the transaction was produced.
When Basira took the proof of transfer to Pondai, he was told to be patient as Mapfumo had not yet brought the money.
Upon realising that he had been duped three days later, Basira filed a police report leading to Mapfumo’s arrest.
Mapfumo implicated Pondai as the one who received the money directly from Basira.
Nothing was recovered.
Online Reporter