Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
A CHINESE businessman appeared in court yesterday accused of defrauding a partner of over US$262 000 in a botched business transaction.
The suspect Liu Jianl Yu was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa.
He was granted US$500 bail and was ordered not to interfere with witnesses, to surrender his passport, to report once a fortnight at CID commercial crimes division and to reside at his given address until the matter is finalised.
The complainant is Liu Xinyan (52), a Chinese businessman residing in Harare.
Prosecutors alleged that between April and July this year, Yu connived with his accomplice Pei Rejian to make a misrepresentation to Xinyan that they had all necessary mining permit documents to mine at Angwa River, Karoi.
On June 16, Yu and his accomplice allegedly made Xinyan pay RMB 50 000 x 4 being part of a deposit through WeChat Chinese facility.
He also paid US$40 000 cash.
On June 17, Xinyan also paid RMB 50 000 by two and on the next day, he paid RMB 50 050, RMB 50 000 and RMB 4004-00 through WeChat.
All these monies were paid by Xinyan through his WeChat.
He went on to fund properties that included a motor vehicle namely a Toyota Hilux double cab valued US$12 000, a heavy-duty generator (50 horse power) valued at US$60 000, a heavy-duty water pump and separation machine both valued at US$ 50 000.
He also drilled a borehole that he was charged US$13 000.
Nothing materialised and he suffered a prejudice of US$262 268,36 and nothing was recovered.
