Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Court Correspondent
A MAN from Bulawayo has been sentenced to five months in prison for defrauding a family desperately searching for their missing child.
Chrispen Nyoni (32) pleaded guilty to fraud charges when he appeared before Harare provincial magistrate Mr Tapiwa Kuhudzai.
Nyoni was initially sentenced to six months but one month was suspended on the condition he restitutes the complainant, leaving an effective five-month term.
The incident began on November 6, 2025, in Dzivarasekwa, when the complainant who is victim’s aunt sent her 11-year-old nephew to a nearby tuck shop to buy milk and eggs.
When the boy failed to return after 30 minutes, the complainant contacted shop owners, who confirmed they had not seen him.
The aunt informed neighbours and posted in a community WhatsApp group seeking help.
Despite their efforts, the boy could not be located, prompting the aunt to file a missing persons report at ZRP Dzivarasekwa.
The following day, the complainant created and shared a flyer of the missing child on social media, a move that caught the attention of Nyoni.
Seizing the opportunity to exploit the family’s desperation, Nyoni devised a plan to defraud them.
On November 8, Nyoni sent a “call me back” message to the complainant, claiming he had information about the missing boy.
He requested airtime worth US$2, pretending he needed it to buy data for online communication.
Desperate for answers, complainant complied and later sent an additional US$17 to an EcoCash account belonging to Nyoni’s girlfriend, Blessing Moyo, under Nyoni’s instructions.
He promised to share the boy’s exact location but failed to deliver.
The fraud continued into the early hours of November 9, when Nyoni called the complainant again, reassuring her that the child was safe but requesting another US$5.50 for transport to retrieve the boy.
The complainant sent the money but received no further information.
After realising she had been scammed, she reported the matter to the police.
Nyoni was arrested in Nkulumane, Bulawayo and his phone and one belonging to his girlfriend were recovered.
