admin
Prosper Dembedza Harare Correspondent
A suspected fraudster from Chitungwiza has appeared in court on allegations of defrauding two unsuspecting homeseekers of US$41 000 through fake title deeds.
Lovejoy Nyamande was facing two counts of fraud when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Dennis Mangosi who remanded him in custody to tomorrow for bail application.
It is the State’s case that last year, Nyamande forged a fake deed of transfer in the name of the actual owner of the stand, Albert Chauruka, and then created a fake national identity card also in the name of Albert Chauruka.
Nyamande advertised in media that he was selling a residential stand amounting for US$13 000 and attached his cellphone numbers.
Gugulethu Ncube, who is a clerk in the Ministry of Finance, responded to the advertisement and met Nyamande who produced the fake national ID and fake title deed both in the name of the real owner.
So on June 26 last year, Mr Ncube paid Nyamande US$13 000 through a lawyer. But when Mr Ncube’s lawyer visited the Registrar of Deeds to process the transfer of the property, he was told that the title deed was fraudulently acquired and it was fake.
On the second count, the complainants John Mupindu and his brother Takawira came across an advert on Facebook in which an agent by the name Tafadzwa claimed to be selling stand 2256 Prospect Township, in Waterfalls, Harare.
The stand measuring 588 square meters, was valued at US$35 000. Mr Mupindu contacted Nyamande on his mobile and then went to view the stand in the company of Takawira.
They negotiated a sale for US$28 000.
In May this year, Mr Mupindu contacted his lawyers at Matsikidze Attorneys at Law with intention to purchase the stand.
The lawyers then requested copies of the deed of transfer and national identity card of the seller for them to process the paperwork.
On May 12 this year, Mr Mupindu met Nyamande in central Harare he was given a copy of the title deed and the national ID of Harold Mukoyi, the real owner of the stand.
Thereafter the lawyer went to the Deeds Office to carry out due diligence and discovered that the stand was in the name of Harold Mukoyi.
On the same day, Mr Mupindu met Nyamande at Matsikidze law firm at number 7 Zororo Duri Avenue, Eastlea, Harare for payment.
The court heard that Mupindu made a payment of US$28 000 in cash and both parties signed an agreement of sale.
They agreed to meet the following morning at Zimra offices so that they would sign a capital gains certificate.
But Mr Mupindu never got the stand as the title deeds were fake.
Online Reporter