Harare man defrauds business partners

more than US$14 000.
Kudakwashe Mudumo (40), who owns a construction company, Pukmund Construction (Pvt) Ltd would pocket proceeds from a contract without sharing with his partners who had also invested in the deal.
Mudumo was not asked to plead to two counts of fraud when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Donald Ndirowei.
He was granted US$100 bail and was remanded to December 5.
Prosecutor Ms Rutendo Manhimanzi told the court that sometime in July this year, Mudumo acquired a tender to renovate NSSA buildings in Kariba and Chinhoyi.
He hatched a plan to defraud prospective investors before approaching an unnamed businesswoman.
Mudumo told the woman that he was prepared to incorporate her into his company as a co-director if she injects US$6 000 towards the project.
He further told her the project would realise a profit of US$13 000, which he said they would share equally.
The woman agreed to supply materials needed on condition the proceeds would be deposited into her company account.
She then supplied materials worth US$8 500 and the project was successfully completed.
Mudumo, the State says, wrote a letter to NSSA instructing them to deposit payment into his company’s account, which was not the initial agreement with his business partner.
The offence came to light when the woman approached NSSA for payment and was told it had already been paid to Mudumo.
On the second count, Mudumo won yet another tender to build pre-cast walls and gates at Mbare Polyclinic and Edith Maternity Hospital.
Using the same modus operandi, he tricked another businesswoman and made her to inject US$6 130 towards the project.
The woman deposited the money into his account and Mudumo converted it to his personal use.
The offence came to light when the woman went to inspect the project and was told the tender was cancelled.