CAR DEALER IN US$30k FRAUD STORM

Zvikomborero Parafini

A CAR dealer was dragged to court over the weekend after he allegedly duped his customer, Harare businesswoman Natasha Chidemo.

Richwell Tanyaradzwa Chingwalo appeared before magistrate Ethel Chichera.

The court heard that Chingwalo and Chidemo met in August last year and Chingwalo misrepresented that he had capacity to import a car on her behalf.

The two entered into an agreement, in which Chingwalo was to import a Toyota Fortuner 4X4 from South Africa, on behalf of Chidemo.

On August 22, Chidemo paid a deposit of US$15 000 of which US$10 000 was paid cash while US$5000 was deposited into a South African company account.

In October, Chingwalo requested transportation costs of the vehicle from South Africa to Zimbabwe and was paid US$1000 in cash.

Chidemo was instructed to deposit US$12 100 into Chingwalo’s company account for import duty for the Toyota Fortuner and she complied.

However, the car was never delivered, prompting Chidemo to file a police report.