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Yeukai Karengezeka, Court Correspondent
Chinese man, Lui Bo, has appeared in court facing fraud charges after allegedly deceiving a local transport company into ferrying chrome to Mozambique, only to load it with lithium, resulting in the vehicle’s seizure by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra).
Lui was granted US$400 bail by Harare magistrate Mr Isheunesu Matova and is scheduled to return to court on February 7.
The complainant in the case is Mugwazi Transport Company, represented by its director, Mr Richard Mugwazi.
According to the prosecution led by Mr Rufaro Chonzi, the incident occurred in October this year.
It is alleged that Lui approached Mugwazi Transport Company to hire a truck for ferry chrome ore from Zimbabwe to Beira in Mozambique, for export to China, claiming that all export documentation was in order.
Based on this assurance, the parties agreed on a transport fee of US$750, and the truck, along with a horse and trailer container, was released for the job.
However, instead of loading the promised chrome ore, Lui allegedly loaded the truck with lithium quartz and sealed it.
The fraudulent scheme unravelled when Zimra officials stopped and seized the truck at Forbes Border Post. They discovered the truck was carrying lithium ore instead of chrome.
Upon learning of the seizure, Mr Mugwazi attempted to contact Lui, but he reportedly became evasive, prompting the transport company to file a police report.
The alleged deception resulted in Mugwazi Transport Company suffering financial losses amounting to US$30 000, which include the value of the seized truck and associated costs.
To date, no recovery has been made.
Online Reporter