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Nyore Madzianike Senior Court Reporter
A SUSPECTED fraudster appeared in court yesterday on allegations of duping the director of Lee Capital (Pvt) Limited of $8 million in a botched foreign currency deal.
John Kandemiri of Glen Norah, Harare, appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Dennis Mangosi charged with fraud and was not asked to plead to the charges. Kandemiri is alleged to have duped Linda Baipai, who is a director of Lee Capital.
The State led by Mr Parson Dziva has it that sometime in November this year, Baipai’s tenant, Manoj Prasad, lost his cellphone and made a report to the police. It is said that Kandemiri then picked the cellphone and started using it. Kandemiri is said to have sent a message to Baipai using Manoj Prasad’s WhatsApp saying he wanted a bank transfer of $8 million in exchange of US$10 000.
Baipai was made to believe that she was communicating with Manoj Prasad and went on to ask for some banking details. It is said that Kandemiri then send a CBZ Bank Account 02125654690014, which belonged to a company called Capital Hive Private Limited.
Unsuspectingly, Baipai instructed her uncle to transfer $8 million from his CBZ Bank Account into the given number and later sent proof of transfer to Manoj Prasad’s Whatsapp account.
Kandemiri allegedly confirmed receipt of the money and promised to deliver the US$10 000, as agreed.
On the following day, Baipai approached Manoj intending to collect the US$10 000 and was shocked to discover that he was not aware of the transaction. It is said that on December 12, Anistos Munyaradzi Makanda, the director of Capital Hive Private Limited was picked by police for interviews and it was established that he was approached by Lighton Lloyd Chizema, who indicated that he knew someone who had $8 million and was looking for United States dollars.
Makanda then said that he gave Chizema Capital Hive’s CBZ Bank Account number where $8 million was transferred. It is said that Makanda gave Chizema US$9 091, which was equivalent to the $8 million.
Chizema and Kandemiri went on to share the money amongst themselves, according to the State.
Online Reporter