adminNaran (48), of Number 382 Gorebridge Road, Killarney, had pleaded not guilty to fraud involving $129 000, but was last month convicted by senior Western Division regional magistrate, Mr Owen Tagu.
Naran, who has been languishing in remand prison for the past three weeks, had an additional imprisonment term of 12 months wholly suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
In giving him the option of a fine, the court said it had taken into account that he had reached an agreement to pay the complainant $25 000, being the value of the motor vehicle, which he was supposed to buy on behalf of the complainant.
The State proved that on 19 December 2006 Naran, who runs Naran Commodities Brokers situated at Number 64 Main Street, misrepresented to Mr Paradzai Mutandwa Chakona, a director with Global Technology Central Africa, that he had free funds in the United States of America.
He told Mr Chakona that he could buy a Mercedes Benz ML280CDI on his behalf from Stenham Global Services Limited in England.
The vehicle, which Mr Chakona wanted to buy, was selling for 64 994 euros.
Naran had ZW$580 922 400, which was equivalent to $134 200 according to the prevailing exchange rate at the time, deposited into his Kingdom Bank account.
On 19 February 2007, Naran faxed a fake Barclays Bank transfer document to Mr Chakona purporting that he had transferred 30 000 Pounds to Stenham Global Services Limited for the purchase of the motor vehicle.
During the same month he faxed another fake transfer document purporting that he had transferred another 16 150 Pounds.
On 13 June 2008, Mr Chakona discovered that the transfers were fake and approached Naran who apologised and promised to pay the full amount and signed an acknowledgement of debt.
He only managed to pay back $5 000.
Mr Goodluck Katenaire prosecuted while Mr Munyaradzi Nzarayapenga, of Dube-Banda, Nzarayapenga and Partners defended Naran.
Online Reporter