Moffat Mungazi
Fidelis Chavarike
Post Reporter
A 28-YEAR-OLD male was hauled before the Mutare Magistrates Court, accused of fraudulently selling a vehicle he did not own.
The accused, Brendon Tsakatsa, who worked as a driver for Dorcas Mapungwana, allegedly sold her accident-damaged Honda Fit to Tendai Muradi for US$1 500.
He was allegedly paid US$1 000 upfront, on February 5, 2025 at around 2pm, at Sanhanga Building in Mutare.
However, Mapungwana had not given Tsakatsa permission to sell the vehicle.
Tsakatsa was charged with fraud as defined in Section 136 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act (Chapter 9:23).
Muradi, the buyer reportedly paid Tsakatsa the full amount, but later reported him to the authorities after Mapungwana had retrieved the car from him.
Prosecutor Mr Chris Manyuku told the court that Tsakatsa made a misrepresentation to Muradi, deceiving him into believing that he owned the vehicle.
However, in his defence Tsakatsa told the court that Mapungwana had given him the car and its log book after it was involved in an accident in Penhalonga that injured four people.
“When Mapungwana left the car and the book in my hands, we had once had a talk and she had given me the car. That’s why I sold it to cover off for the medical expenses of the four injured people. I even called her husband during the transaction. I initially called her thrice but did not answer. I am willing to pay Muradi for his loss and I have already brought the money,” he said.
The magistrate, Mr Xavier Chipato adjourned that matter to April 10 for a final ruling.
Online Reporter