adminMercy Ngwebvu
SWINDLING a client of $3 000 in the guise of selling a residential stand landed a Sakubva man in court facing fraud charges. Wonder Erias Gapa (48), a resident of Messengers’ Camp in Sakubva, appeared before senior Mutare magistrate Mrs Sekai Chiundura and pleaded not guilty to the fraud charges as stipulated in Section 136 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Prosecuting, Mr Nelson Makunyire told the court that in October 2011, Gapa swindled Francis Haadi Kuhudzai who was looking for a residential stand to buy.
“When he met Kuhudzai, Gapa lied that he had a mandate from the then Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities to sell residential stands in Garikai Phase 2.
“Knowing full well that he did not have any mandate from the ministry, Gapa proceeded to accept $3 000 from Kuhudzai, purporting that the money was for Stand Number 9013 in Garikai 2. The accused personally issued out membership forms for the stand, stamped and signed as if they were official,” he said.
Kuhudzai later discovered that the stand he had bought from Gapa had already been lawfully allocated to Wilberforce Shumba in 2009 by the ministry.
When he saw that his first plan had flopped, Gapa went on to issue another residential stand to Kuhudzai. This time it was Stand Number 0021 Garikai 2.
This plan, however, hit another snag because the stand was falling on a piece of land reserved by the ministry to set up a ZESA sub-station.
Kuhudzai later made a police report leading to Gapa’s arrest.
The accused is expected to re-appear in court on September 29. He was granted $200 bail.
Online Reporter