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Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
Harare businessman Genius Kadungure, who is accused of swindling two businessmen of more than R1,5 million, had his bail conditions eased by a Harare magistrate yesterday.
Through his lawyer, Mr Tafadzwa Hungwe, Kadungure – who was initially ordered to report five days a week, Monday to Friday at CID Serious Frauds – made an application for relaxation of reporting conditions.
Kadungure is accused of swindling Zanu-PF MP for Chegutu West Cde Dexter Nduna, who is the managing director of Badon Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd; and a Kadoma-based miner only identified as Gatawa of R1 581 890.
He appeared before Mr Tendai Mahwe, who granted him the application and ordered him to report once a week at CID Serious Frauds.
Prosecutor Miss Sharon Mashavira did not oppose the application.
However, she notified the court that investigations into the matter were complete and that the docket had been sent to the Prosecutor- General’s Office for perusal.
Mr Mahwe remanded Kadungure to September 10.
It is alleged that sometime in November 2012, Kadungure – in connivance with unknown accomplices – created a fictitious company named Transco Civil Engineering purportedly based in South Africa and opened an account for it with ABSA.
He allegedly created an e-mail account under the name [email protected], pretending to be a legitimate representative of Marange Resources.
Kadungure then misrepresented himself as the chief buyer for Marange Resources looking for mining pumps at competitive prices.
On December 4, Gatawa sent his brother Enock to South Africa to buy the pumps from the fictitious company.
He paid R1 046 890 and was told by Transco Civil Engineering “officials” to go back to Zimbabwe and check for his parcel with DHL in three days’ time.
He was shocked to receive a parcel of cellphone chargers, at which point he realised that he had been duped, the court heard.
Cde Nduna was also duped by Kadungure in the same manner.
Online Reporter