Clearing agent on $9k fraud charge

Quitani Tawanda Muposeki Victoria Falls Correspondent
A clearing agent based in Victoria Falls who now runs his own firm allegedly defrauded his previous employer D and G Consultants of $9,000. Tichaona Katawa, 40, of Mkhosana suburb, yesterday appeared in court after D and G Consultants reported him to the police for allegedly defrauding them R67,450 and $2,310.

D and G Consultants is a clearing company in Victoria Falls and Katawa was now a director of a new firm, Better Moves Trading Company, which he recently formed, the court heard.

Katawa was not asked to plead when he appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate, Sharon Rosemani.

He was remanded out of custody on $300 bail. Katawa was represented by Dorothy Zihove of Mashindi and Mashindi Legal Practitioners while D and G was represented by Chibvongodze Pingwe.

Katawa was ordered to surrender his travelling documents, not to interfere with witnesses and to report to ZRP Victoria Falls once a week on Fridays as part of his bail conditions.

The matter will now proceed by way of summons after the State asked the police to investigate the case further.

Prosecuting, Listen Nare said Katawa allegedly received R27,000 and $2,310 from clients to process some documents but converted the money to his own use.

The State alleges that the crime was committed last year when Katawa was still an employee of D and G Consultants.

“During the period between December 2013 and November 30, 2014, the accused, who was an employee of D and G Consultants, received money amounting to R27,200 and $2,310 after processing Vehicle Guarantee Certificates for the company.

“He converted the money to his own use,” said Nare.

He said Katawa allegedly went on to defraud the company of a further R40,250 despite having quit as an employee. Katawa allegedly manufactured counterfeit receipts with the D and G Consultants logo and was paid R40,250 by a client and converted the money to his own use.

The crimes came to light when the company checked its receipts and discovered that some of them were fake.