Online Reporter
Prosper Dembedza
Herald Correspondent
A HARARE car dealer, Elias Murandu, has appeared in court on allegations of defrauding Cobra Security of US$76 000 in botched vehicle import deals.
Murandu faced fraud charges when he appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Ruth Moyo.
He was remanded in custody to tomorrow for bail application.
It is alleged that during the period extending from March 2024 to September 2024 and on three different occasions, Murandu misrepresented to Cobra Security that he could import three cars, a Range Rover, Toyota Hilux Legend 50 and Toyota Fortuner for the company from South
Africa at US$29 000, US$24 000 and US$23 000, respectively.
Acting on the misrepresentation, the security company paid US$76 000 to Murandu using both cash and bank transfers to his supplied accounts.
Murandu never imported the cars.
Instead, he kept giving empty promises until he eventually became unavailable.
This prompted Cobra Security to report the matter to police. The total value defrauded is US$76 000 and nothing was recovered.
Bongani Ndlovu