admindefrauded two companies of more than US$3 000, has appeared in court.
Seventy-three year old Stephen Mangena (73), who also conned Sunshine Hardware after misrepresenting that he was an administrator at Girls High School, appeared before Mr Donald Ndirowei facing two counts of fraud involving US$3 400.
He was denied bail and remanded in custody to November 11.
Prosecutor Mrs Molyn Mutamangira-Mavhondo had opposed bail on the grounds that Mangena was a flight risk since he was of no fixed abode and was likely to interfere with State witnesses.
When asked by the magistrate to respond to the State’s submissions, Mangena said he was suitable for bail because he had two houses in Harare.
He pleaded with the court to grant him bail to enable him to collect the stolen goods so that he would return them to the owners.
The State alleged that on September 8 this year, Mangena went to Compass Hardware and misrepresented that he was employed by the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development and misrepresented that he intended to buy building materials on behalf of the Ministry.
The materials, he said, were to be used at his offices where renovations were taking place. He ordered materials worth US$1 800.
On the second count, Mangena, using the same tricks, swindled Sunshine Hardware of materials worth US$1 652 after misrepresenting that he was an administrator at Girls High School. Mangena went together with the complainant to the school and upon arrival he told him the headmistress was in a meeting and ordered him to leave the goods and collect payment later.
Online Reporter