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Court Reporter
The trial of Studio 263 actor Tafadzwa Tandi, also known as Hillary Indi, who allegedly used Bona Mugabe’s wedding to swindle a Harare couple of US$20 000, failed to start yesterday.
Tandi (31), of Mabelreign, Harare, appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Elijah Makoma yesterday facing fraud charges.
However, his lawyer Mr Michael Zvenyika asked for more time to peruse the State papers and prepare his defence.
Mr Zvenyika told the court that he was served with State papers last Tuesday and was recently given instructions to represent Tandi.
The trial was postponed to September 9. Tandi is on US$200 bail.
Prosecutor Mrs Molyn Mutamangira-Mavhondo told the court that Tandi was self-employed as an events consultant.
It is alleged that sometime in March this year, Tandi approached a couple preparing for a wedding and lied that he was a choreographer employed by Cresta Lodge as a wedding planner.
Tandi also told the couple that he had planned Bona Mugabe’s wedding, enticing the couple to engage him to plan a special wedding for them.
Tandi allegedly charged US$1 000 for planning and indicated that no extra costs would be incurred.
The court heard that Tandi told the couple that US$30 000 was the total budget for the wedding but the couple offered US$40 000.
Total value of prejudice to the couple is US$23 000 and only US$3 000 was recovered.
Online Reporter