Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Court Correspondent
A LOCAL fuel company and its director have been arraigned in court alongside an accomplice for allegedly defrauding another fuel supplier of 40 000 litres of petrol worth US$56 400.
Trilis Investments Private Limited, represented by its director Clive Chipondene, and Malvern Tsikai (30), who was employed as an independent marketing representative by the complainant, Relco Energy Private Limited, appeared before Harare provincial magistrate Mrs Sharon Rakafa facing charges of fraud.
The case has been remanded to next month for trial commencement.
Relco Energy is represented in court by Derrek Chimbwanda.
Prosecutor Ms Lynne Gwarisa alleged that Relco Energy and Trilis Investments had maintained a business relationship for over two years before the alleged offence occurred.
On August 14, 2025, Trilis Investments, through its usual contact person Moreblessing Cherayi, placed an order for 40 000 litres of petrol from Relco Energy, promising payment after delivery.
Acting in good faith, Relco Energy initiated a release order for the fuel (release order number RE8183) and informed Trilis Investments that the petrol was ready for collection at NOIC Zimbabwe.
Trilis Investments dispatched a driver, Farai Nhau, to collect the release order, which he used to load the fuel at NOIC Zimbabwe. However, after loading the 40 000 litres of petrol, Trilis Investments allegedly diverted the fuel in two separate operations.
A total of 27 000 litres was reportedly delivered by another driver, Ralph Chimkonda, to Trilis Investments’ service stations in Chinhoyi, Magunje, and Murewa, trading as Trilis Energy.
The remaining 13 000 litres, however, were allegedly taken by Tsikai and delivered to Mega Fuels and Downtown Service Station in Chitungwiza under false pretences.
Tsikai reportedly used Relco Energy’s name to sell the fuel to these buyers without the company’s knowledge or consent.
When Relco Energy approached Trilis Investments for payment, director Chipondene denied any knowledge of the fuel delivery.
Relco Energy then filed a police report.
Subsequent investigations revealed that Nhau and Chimkonda had provided delivery notes confirming that the accused had received the fuel.
