Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo
Court Correspondent
A SUSPECTED con man appeared before the Harare Magistrates Court yesterday, facing fraud charges after allegedly using fake national identity cards and counterfeit payslips to obtain loans from a financial institution.
John Chirine (32) appeared before magistrate Mr Michael Mafukidze, facing two counts of fraud.
He was granted US$300 bail.
The complainant is Innbucks Microbank Limited, represented by its Head of Risk, Mr Marcos Mupingo.
Prosecutor Mr Lawrence Gangarahwe alleged that on April 26, 2026, Chirine devised a plan to defraud the complainant by producing a fake national identity card and a counterfeit Natpack Flexibles company payslip in the name of Brandon Benhura.
It is alleged that Chirine approached Innbucks Microbank offices at Number 2 Northridge Park, Borrowdale, Harare, where he submitted the documents and applied for a loan of US$3 321, while misrepresenting himself as Brandon Benhura.
The court heard that, acting on the misrepresentation, the complainant processed and disbursed the loan into an NMB Bank account allegedly controlled by Chirine. He allegedly withdrew the money and used it for personal gain.
On the second count, Chirine allegedly committed a similar offence on May 5, 2026, by producing another fake Natpack Flexibles payslip and a counterfeit national identity card in the name of Isaac Machingura.
He allegedly approached the same financial institution and applied for a loan of US$6 300, while posing as Isaac Machingura.
However, the court heard that the complainant detected the alleged fraud before the money was disbursed and immediately withheld the loan.
A report was subsequently made to the police, leading to Chirine’s arrest.
The complainant reportedly suffered an actual prejudice of US$3 321.
