Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
A HARARE car dealer appeared in court yesterday after being implicated in a theft of trust property scam in which the managing director of Rockshade Car Rental (Pvt) Ltd lost a vehicle worth US$200,000.
Chekufa Matsineyi was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Ruth Moyo, who released him on US$100 bail.
The complainant is Brian Samupambadze, the MD of Rockshade Car Rental (Pvt) Ltd.
Allegations are that in April last year, Samupambadze was doing customs clearance at Chirundu Border Post after importing his buses.
He fell short of money for Value Added Tax and storage charges for the buses.
He then contacted Matsineyi, looking for US$4,900, which he would return after three days.
Matsineyi then told Samupambadze that he could give him the money at US$1,500 interest on condition that he holds collateral security in the form of a motor vehicle.
Samupambadze then offered his only vehicle which was available, a Land Cruiser V8 200 series registration number AEK 6358, as collateral security.
Matsineyi then gave the Samupambadze the US$4,900 and took the motor vehicle.
Matsineyi went on to sell the motor vehicle without Samupambadze’s knowledge and converted the proceeds to his own use.
On his return from Chirundu, after three days, Samupambadze made efforts to locate Matsineyi to repay the money and recover his car but he could not be located.
This prompted Samupambadze to report the matter to police leading to arrest of Matsineyi and recovery of the stolen vehicle.
The vehicle is worth US$200,000.
Mathew Masinge