Man in court over US$36k fraud

Rumbidzai Nyamande (30), of Zin’anga Village, Ziko Dema, is employed as the finance manager at Nexus Gases in Chitungwiza and is accused of defrauding her employer of more than US$34 000 by allegedly diverting money meant for suppliers to her personal use, was yesterday further remanded in custody

Prosper Dembedza

Herald Correspondent

A man has appeared at the Harare magistrates court facing charges of theft of trust property of US$36 000 collected to import a vehicle for another man.

Ricard Enerst Joseph (38) appeared before Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa and was freed on US$100 bail.

The court heard that Rana Ghulam Ali (38) of 10 Cromerty Rd, Belvedere, Harare, approached Joseph in November 2019 and asked him to import a Toyota Fortuner from South Africa. Joseph first asked for US$33 000 and drove up from Kwekwe to collect the money. A few weeks later, he allegedly asked for another US$3 000 and again drove from Kwekwe to Harare and collected the money.

Joseph allegedly promised to deliver the vehicle within some few weeks.

But after receiving the US$36 000 from Mr Ali, he allegedly became evasive and stopped picking up his calls. Joseph also allegedly left his address, so Mr Ali filed a report for theft of trust property.

So far nothing has been recovered.