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Lethokuhle Moyo Court Reporter
An employee of a company contracted by Zimpapers Bulawayo branch to provide cleaning services yesterday appeared in court facing charges of defrauding a bus driver of $18,000.
Flora Banda, 48, of Mpopoma who is employed by AMIS cleaning company allegedly misrepresented to Lovemore Sibanda that managers at the branch had won a tender to supply chemicals and drugs to government hospitals and they wanted him to finance the deal.
Banda appeared before magistrate Sibongile Msipa facing fraud charges.
She was not asked to plead and was remanded to December 19 on $50 bail.
Prosecuting Charles Danda told the court that sometime in January this year, Sibanda was approached by Banda who advised him that the managers had won a tender.
Danda told the court that during the same month, Banda went to collect $18,000 cash from Sibanda and advised him that he should expect his money with some profit in June.
“During the month of May, the complainant approached the accused and enquired about the progress of the deal and was told that the managers had supplied Inyathi Hospital with chemicals.
“Banda told him that the paying officer wanted $650 bribe to fast track the payment. She was given $450 towards the alleged bribe,” Danda said.
The court heard that in July 2014, Sibanda went to Banda asking for his money but Banda failed to hand over the money and profits.
“Sibanda then went to the Zimpapers branch to enquire about the alleged tender and was told that no managers were involved,” said Danda
Sibanda confronted Banda and she allegedly produced fake affidavits indicating the branch’s employees borrowed the money.
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