Danisa Masuku, [email protected]
A 51-YEAR-OLD man appeared in court for allegedly stealing US$120 500 entrusted to him by a widow for safekeeping.
Walter Hickey of Plot 9 along Nkayi Road appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Mathew Mutiro facing a charge of theft of trust property.
He was not asked to plead and was advised to apply to the Bulawayo High Court for bail.
Prosecuting, Mr Owen Mugari said following the death of her husband in 2023, the complainant sold some of her estate and realised substantial amounts of money, which she kept at her house.
The court heard that in October 2024, the complainant told Hickey that she was keeping US$42 000 at her house.
Hickey allegedly offered to keep the money for her in a cash safe at his workplace and she agreed.
The complainant subsequently handed over the US$42 000 to Hickey for safekeeping on the understanding that he would return it whenever she needed it.
Mr Mugari said sometime in October 2025, the complainant asked Hickey to return the money so that she could settle her financial obligations, but he failed to do so, allegedly telling her that he had used the money.
The court heard that the complainant subsequently entrusted Hickey with additional amounts for safekeeping.
On December 16, 2025, she allegedly gave him US$45 500, followed by further amounts of US$10 000, US$15 500, US$21 000 and US$2 000.
The State alleged that Hickey converted the money to his own use instead of keeping it for the complainant as agreed.
“The complainant was thereby deprived of the whole amount of US$120 500,” said Mr Mugari.
The court further heard that after allegedly receiving the total US$120 500, Hickey bought an Isuzu KB 300 motor vehicle, registration number ABG 2568, allegedly using the money in an attempt to conceal or disguise its origins.
