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AFTER two years on the run, the long arm of the law finally caught up with a Harare man accused of US$14 000 fraud.
Isaac Mafa, 42, appeared before Harare Magistrate Dennis Mangosi yesterday accused of defrauding Cladious Mutavirwa of US$14 750 in 2021.
Mafa was granted $50 000 bail, and he will be back in court on May 10.
The State said sometime in March 2021, Mutavirwa wanted to buy flour at Blue Ribbon Foods and engaged the services of Matreal World (Pvt) Ltd, a customer of Blue Ribbon Foods, to purchase on his behalf.
Mutavirwa was told to transfer the Zimbabwean dollar equivalent of US$14 750 into the Matreal World bank account.
Mutavirwa sent a message on a WhatsApp group looking for someone with Zim dollars.
He was contacted by Tinashe Kaseke and went to Eastgate Mall where he met him and Mafa.
They all went into Mutavirwa’s car where Kaseke and Mafa faked a mobile money transfer, and he gave them the US dollars.
The court heard that Mafa then alighted from the car saying he wanted to collect something from his vehicle.
Kaseke also got out of the car.
When Mutavirwa realised that no money was deposited into the Matreal World bank account, he tried to contact Kaseke, but his number was not reachable.
Mutavirwa only met Mafa in the Harare Central Business District on Monday leading to his arrest.
Kaseke is still on the run.
Zebedia Bofu appeared for the State.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter