Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
A FORMER debtors clerk at Pharmaceutical and Chemical Distributors allegedly siphoned off more than US$569 000 from the company after collecting payments from a client and converting the money to her personal use.
Portia Muchabaiwa (31) appeared before Harare regional magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa facing allegations of theft of trust property and contravening the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act.
The State alleges that between January 2024 and May this year, Muchabaiwa was employed as a debtors clerk responsible for posting receipts and reconciling customers’ accounts on the company’s computerised data capturing system.
It is alleged that during that period, Muchabaiwa secretly approached one of the company’s clients, Mainstreet Pharmacy, and collected payments amounting to US$569 347.
Prosecutors allege that she issued receipts whenever she received the payments, but instead of handing the money over to her employer, converted it to her own use.
Muchabaiwa allegedly went on to post fictitious entries into the company’s computerised data capturing system in an attempt to conceal the transactions.
The alleged offence was discovered when the company went through its books and records.
The State says Pharmaceutical and Chemical Distributors suffered an actual prejudice of US$569 347, with nothing recovered so far. She was released on US$500 bail.
