Businessman sentenced 10 years for fraud

convicted by Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Owen Tagu.
Three years of his sentence were suspended for five years on condition that he does not within that period commit a similar offence.
The remaining seven years were suspended on condition that Batsiri pays compensation of 39 tonnes of soya beans and 20 tonnes of maize or a total of $22 400 before 3 July this year.
The prosecutor, Mr Mazhar Petkar, proved that between June and August 2010, Batsiri was given $19 000 by Mr Fredrick Christian Muller so that he could supply him with soya beans.
The State proved that he supplied soya beans valued at $5 000 and converted $14 000 to his own use.
Between May and June the same year, Batsiri had been given $8 400 so that he could supply Mr Muller with maize.
He was to buy maize worth $7 200 while $1 200 was for transport.
After receiving the money, Batsiri never supplied the maize but instead converted the money to his own use.