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Court Reporter
A businessman in Beatrice who swindled a policeman and an electrician of more than US$1 500 will perform 250 hours of community service after being convicted of fraud and will escape jail so long he pays back his victims. Romeo Mapfumo (29), who owns a butchery at Duntyte Farm in Beatrice, on April 3 approached Shepherd Mgwagwa (37), a policeman at Beatrice camp, and borrowed US$350 agreeing to repay at the end of the month. But he did not repay.
In July, he was approached by Chrispen Mutabvure, an electrician at ZETDC who was selling his vehicle, a Nissan Elgrand, and wanted US$4 900.
Mapfumo agreed to sell the car on behalf of Mr Mutabvure in Harare. After being handed the car, he sold it to Trevor Charakupa of Bloomingdale in Malbereign and was paid US$3 000 with more to come later.
Instead of handing over all the money to Mutabvure, Mapfumo converted US$1 000 to his own use and gave just US$2 000 to Mr Mutabvure. Later in the month Mapfumo collected another US$1 000 from Mr Charakupa and handed US$500 to Mr Mutabvure keeping the other half.
The matter came to light after Mr Charakupa called Mr Mutabvure to pay the remaining US$900 of the the price and Mr Mutabvure realised that he had been swindled of US$1 500.
The offences were reported to the police leading to Mapfumo’s arrest.
Mapfumo last week admiited to two counts of fraud before Chitungwiza magistrate Mr Kudakwashe Jarabini who slapped him with 24 months jail.
Online Reporter