Housing fraudster bail ruling today

BULAWAYO businessman Elliot Mharadze, who allegedly swindled home seekers of nearly US$50 000 and about R1 million, has had his bail ruling reserved until tomorrow. Mharadze, a director of Exceed Construction, who had been on the run for the past five years, pleaded not guilty to 33 counts of fraud when he appeared before regional magistrate Mr Joseph Mabeza.

Prosecutor Mr Acquman Khupe argued that Mharadze is a flight risk and that there was no guarantee he would not abscond given the number of counts against him and more complainants coming forward.

“The accused is likely to abscond as he provided fake addresses of residence and has been elusive for the past five years. In addition to that, his company Exceed Construction had gone bankrupt,” submitted Mr Khupe. However, Mharadze’s lawyer Mr Goodluck Katanaire of Mutuso, Taruvinga and Mhiribidi Attorneys, counter argued that his client had no prior convictions and was a good candidate for bail.

He said on the day of his arrest, Mharadze made no attempts to flee or bribe the arresting officers or interfere with witnesses.

He argued that bail was a constitutional right, hence the State is bound by the law to grant Mharadze bail.

According to the State, on September 4, 2018, one of the complainants, Mr Butholezwe Dube went to Mharadze’s company offices located at the intersection of Herbert Chitepo Street and Leopold Takawira Avenue in the city centre intending to buy a residential property.

“Mharadze then offered to build the complainant a two-roomed house in Pumula South for US$17 000. The accused and the complainant then entered into an agreement and Mr Dube paid a deposit of US$13 000,” said Mr Khupe.

The court heard that Mr Dube later visited Bulawayo City Council offices to inquire about the stand and discovered that it had been sold and registered in someone else’s name.

On December 24, 2018, Mharadze allegedly duped Ms Joyce Moyo using the same trick to sell a non-existent stand for R215 000.

On 22 March 22, 2018, Mharadze defrauded Ms Claudious Manamela of US$5 000 for a house purported to be in Nkulumane suburb.

The court heard that on July 18, 2018, Mr Bongani Nyathi was defrauded of US$19 000 for a house supposed to be in Pelandaba.

The total amount Mharadze pocketed in his alleged fraudulent crusade is US$47 925 and R953 000.