Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Court Correspondent
DAIRIBORD Zimbabwe Limited has suffered a significant financial loss after one of its cashiers allegedly embezzled a total of US$179 612.
The funds were reportedly used on personal expenditures and loaned out to various companies without authorisation.
Helen Murenha (40) appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Artwell Sanyatwe and was remanded in custody pending a bail hearing scheduled for today.
The complainant, represented by Dairibord’s senior internal auditor, Tawanda Chinembiri, uncovered the alleged offence during a routine audit.
According to prosecutor Mr Rufaro Chonzi, the incident came to light on November 5, when Dairibord accountant Evermore Chanetsa conducted a reconciliation of the accused’s account and discovered a suspicious transaction.
Chanetsa reported the anomaly to Mr Chinembiri, who immediately conducted a surprise cash count at Murenha’s office later that afternoon.
During the cash count, Mr Chinembiri discovered a shortfall of US$54 612 in Murenha’s account.
When questioned, Murenha confessed to having loaned the money to four of Dairibord’s clients without authorisation.
Following these revelations, Mr Chinembiri contacted the clients and managed to recover US$20 000 from Kavhura Investments, US$10 166 from Sigaka Gaza Cera Investments, and US$5 000 from Definitive Investments.
Further investigations on November 6 revealed an additional theft of US$125 000. Murenha allegedly diverted these funds, which were meant for Victor Farm Private Limited, by falsifying records to make it appear that the company had collected the money. The total amount stolen is US$179 612, of which only US$35 166 has been recovered so far.
