Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka
Court Correspondent
A MAN from Harare has been sentenced to 140 hours of community service after defrauding a client of US$1 000 in a cattle sale scam.
Webster Dhliwayo (46) pleaded guilty to theft of trust property charges when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Sharon Rakafa.
Initially, Dhliwayo was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment. However, four months were suspended on condition of good behaviour, while another four months were suspended on the condition that he paid back Mr Pedzisai January the full amount of US$1 000 by December 12 this year.
The remaining four months were set aside on the condition that Dhliwayo performs 140 hours of community service at Pimbi Clinic, starting immediately.
The court heard that Mr January, a resident of Whitecliff in Harare, was looking to buy cattle for breeding purposes. On September 6 this year, he informed Dhliwayo of his search, and Dhliwayo claimed he could assist in sourcing the livestock.
The next day, Dhliwayo told Mr January that he had successfully located three cattle, quoting a price of US$1 000 for the lot. Mr January accepted the deal and transferred US$650 to Dhliwayo’s Ecocash account as a deposit. The remaining US$350 was sent the following day, completing the agreed amount.
Dhliwayo then assured Mr January that he could collect the cattle on September 12. However, on that date, Dhliwayo became evasive.
Despite Mr January’s repeated efforts to follow up and recover either the cattle or his money, Dhliwayo failed to deliver on his promise. It was later found that he had converted the entire US$1000 to his personal use and made no attempt to purchase the cattle as agreed.
That led to his arrest and the court trial.
