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A SOUTH African businessman was allegedly duped of US$61 000 by a Harare dealer, who hoodwinked him into believing he could supply him with ferrochrome ore.
Ferrochrome ore is used in the production of stainless steel, special steel and castings.
Panashe Albern Munangi appeared in court yesterday facing fraud charges, and was remanded in custody to April 4 for bail ruling.
The complainant, Zain Winklemann, is one of the directors of Shop 24/7 Uganda (Pvt) Ltd based in Polokwane, South Africa.
The court heard that on December 23 last year, two directors of Shop 24/7 Uganda (Pvt) Ltd, Geoffrey Daniels Okertayot and Francis Okema, were sent by Winklemann to look for ferrochrome ore in Zimbabwe.
The two met Munangi who they had been referred to by a colleague in South Africa.
During the meeting at a local hotel, Munangi allegedly tricked them into believing that he could supply the ferrochrome ore.
The two parties entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
The two directors returned to South Africa.
On December 29, Munangi allegedly sent pictures, and a video clip to Winklemann, purporting to have found ferrochrome ore in Gweru.
Winkleman ordered 60 tons of ferrochrome ore.
Munangi asked Winklemann to transfer US$61 200 into an FNB account belonging to FS Mining Wash Plant (Pvt) Ltd, based in South Africa.
After the payment was made, Munangi asked Winklemann to send trucks from South Africa to collect the ore.
He sent the trucks to Gweru but could not locate Munangi and the trucks spent three days in the city before returning to South Africa.
After finally realising that he had been duped, Winklemann filed a police report.
Investigations showed that Munangi didn’t own a mine and wasn’t in the business of trading in ferrochrome ore as purported.
Online Reporter