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Anesu Chakabva:Herald Reporter
TWO men have been arrested on allegations of fraud involving nearly $500 000 after they formed a security company that then stole a tender that had already been won by their former employer.The two – Richard Ndemera (48) and Togara Tombotiya (41) – appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Hosea Mujaya facing fraud charges and were remanded to February 10 on $100 bail each.
Ndemera and Tombotiya were previously employed as finance director and operations manager, respectively, at Heavy Arms Security.
The court heard that sometime in February 2010, Heavy Arms Security director Jeverson Chari (46) secured a verbal contract with William Bain (Pvt) Ltd to supply security guards at the company and was to sign a written contract after three months of rendering services.
It is alleged that in March 2010, Ndemera and Tombotiya then presented an invoice of $6 213 to William Bain (Pvt) Ltd in which they were to be paid as Rebnek Investments (Pvt) Ltd, alleging that it was trading as Heavy Arms Security Services.
It is further alleged that during the same month, Chari forwarded a similar invoice for the same services to William Bain.
Upon receipt of the invoices, William Bain queried the development and engaged Ndemera and Tombotiya on the issue. The two reportedly raised allegations of fraud against Chari and Clever Ndari, a security officer at William Bain.
Ndemera and Tombotiya reported Chari and Ndari to the police, leading to their arrest.
The duo took advantage of Chari’s arrest and approached William Bain and signed a contract with the com- pany.
From March 2010 to October 2016, Ndemera and Tombotiya continued to provide security services to William Bain, receiving a monthly payment of $6 213. They also entered into contractual agreements with other companies.
The court heard that the company, which had no property at the time of Chari’s arrest, now has five motor vehicles, computers, a stand (No. 127 A, Seke Road) and several branches.
As a result of the misrepresentation, the complainant suffered prejudice in the reputation and good administration of his company and financial prejudice in the sum of $497 040 and nothing was recovered.
Meanwhile, a second pair who allegedly claimed that they owned Caledonia Farm and allocated stands to desperate home seekers, prejudicing them of about $56 million will stand trial at the High Court.
Yasin Alfred (44) and Shingirayi Pfirwe yesterday appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Rumbidzai Mugwagwa.
Ms Mugwagwa said the accused were not yet given their trial date despite being on remand since September last year.
“I am granting State a last chance to put its house in order. The accused are facing a charge involving a substantial amount of $56 million,” she said.
“Because of the amount involved, they will stand trial at the High Court.”
She remanded the pair to April 28 pending their indictment. It is alleged that on September 21 last year, the principal administration officer in the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing received information that Alfred and Pfirwe were allocating stands in Eastview Estates, Caledonia in Harare.
The court heard that the allocation of residential stands is the responsibility of the Caledonia Management Committee, which was established by the ministry.
It is alleged that the pair misrepresented to home seekers that they owned part of Caledonia Farm and that they were allocated the land by the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.
Alfred and Pfirwe offered residential stands measuring 300 square meters and they were paid varying amounts of money per stand sold.
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