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A former employee of Ridgway Grant Real Estate appeared in court yesterday facing fraud charges involving US$56 000.
Chenjerai Chikerekere was granted $200 000 bail when he appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi.
The State said Chenjerai was employed as a bookkeeper by the company and he was tasked with collecting rentals from tenants leasing buildings the agent managed.
Allegations are that instead of surrendering the money, Chenjerai converted it to his personal use. The matter came to light when one of the company’s clients, Wendy Wood, went to collect her rentals paid in advance for six months covering April 2022 to September 2022, and Chenjerai failed to produce it.
The State said Chenjerai approached company’s director, Patrick Ridgway, asking for money to give the clients, stating that he had used the trustee funds to foot company bills.
Ridgway gave Chenjerai his own money and then compiled a list of clients that had paid rentals during the time Chenjerai was the bookkeeper.
From the compiled list, it was discovered that Chenjerai had misappropriated US$56 333.
Essel Zinhiva appeared for the State.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter