adminFIVE men and a woman recently appeared before a Mutare magistrate facing fraud charges after they used fake money to buy goods from various shops in Penhalonga.
The six, Tendai Mureremba (30), Fidelis Kasecha (27), Duncan Mukwanda (16), Talent Milanzi (20), Clement Chaziromunu (27) and Abigail Gwizo (24) appeared before Mutare magistrate Mrs Sekesayi Chiundura and pleaded guilty of the offence.
Representing the State, Mr Cuthbert Bhosha said the team hatched a plan to defraud unsuspecting shop owners recently.
“Mureremba teamed up with Kasecha and proceeded to Sakubva Market where he enlisted the services of other accused persons to help them dispose of the fake notes they had.
“They then hired Chaziromunu, a taxi driver, and promised to pay him after the completion of their mission.
“They drove to Muchena Business Centre in Penhalonga where they used the money to buy groceries,” he said.
They went to various shops, purchasing different items, getting genuine cash as change.
The gang, however, ran out of luck before they could leave the business centre.
Said Mr Bhosha: “Mureremba was caught after he tendered $20 to an alert Maud January who then raised alarm.
“He was searched and another fake $50 note was found in one of his pockets.
“When they saw that one of them had been caught, the rest of the gang fled from the scene in Chaziromunu’s taxi, but they were later arrested.”
A total of $240 which had been used by the fraudsters was recovered from the complainants.
The gang was fined $20 each except for Fidelis Kasecha who was facing two counts. He was subsequently fined $50.
Meanwhile, two men from Gimboki South also appeared before Mrs Chiundura facing fraud charges after allegedly defrauding a multi-currency exchange dealer using fake money at Forbes Border Post rank last week.
Mr Bhosha told the court that Tafadzwa Ruwodo and Fidelis Kasecha hatched a plan to defraud the unsuspecting Patrick Nderere of Sakubva.
“The two lied to Nderere that they were in possession of $250 in $50 denominations for which they wanted R2 250.
“Acting on the misrepresentation, Nderere gave Ruwodo and his accomplice R2 250 in exchange for the fake money,” said Mr Bhosha.
Nderere later examined the money he had received from the two and discovered that it was counterfeit.
He immediately made a police report which subsequently led to the duo’s arrest.
Online Reporter