Zvikomborero Parafini
A 22-YEAR-OLD man allegedly duped two Harare guesthouses, using fake bank transfer confirmations to trick the owners into believing he had paid for accommodation.
Anold Mudekwa, who is facing two counts of fraud, allegedly presented fraudulent proof of payment for accommodation worth a combined US$2 940.
According to court papers, Mudekwa first approached Worship Dumba, who operates a guesthouse in Mount Pleasant, on October 30, seeking accommodation for 30 days.
He was charged US$70 per day, bringing the total accommodation bill to US$2 100.
Mudekwa allegedly offered to transfer the money from his South African Nedbank account into Dumba’s South African First National Bank account. He reportedly used Dumba’s cellphone to facilitate the purported transaction.
Minutes later, Dumba received a proof of payment suggesting that R37 400, equivalent to approximately US$2 200, had been transferred into his account.
Mudekwa allegedly told Dumba that he had mistakenly transferred US$100 more than the agreed amount and requested the difference in cash. Believing the transaction was genuine, Dumba handed him US$100.
However, the following morning, Mudekwa allegedly disappeared from the guesthouse. On November 1, Dumba checked his bank statement and discovered that no money had been deposited into his account.
He subsequently realised that the proof of payment was allegedly fraudulent. In the second incident, Mudekwa allegedly approached another guesthouse operator, Sharon Bere, in Mount Pleasant during the early hours of November 1.
He requested accommodation for 14 days at US$60 per day, bringing the bill to US$840. Mudekwa allegedly offered to transfer R14 280 from his South African Nedbank account into Bere’s local Nedbank account.
Using Bere’s cellphone, he allegedly generated a proof of payment indicating that the money had been transferred. He stayed at the guesthouse for two days.
On November 2, police officers investigating the first incident visited Bere’s guesthouse looking for Mudekwa.
Bere subsequently checked her bank statement and discovered that no payment had been made.
She reported the matter to the police. According to court documents, the two incidents resulted in an actual financial prejudice of US$320 and potential prejudice of US$2 720. Police opposed Mudekwa’s release on bail, arguing that he was likely to abscond or interfere with witnesses.
Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Mike Mukuna also alleged that Mudekwa had failed to produce identification documents, prompting police to seek to establish his identity through fingerprints.
Police further alleged that he had a pending case before the courts.
