MAN LOSES US$3,5K IN BOGUS LAND DEAL

Zvikomborero Parafini

A HARARE man has been dragged to court on allegations of defrauding a prospective home seeker of more than US$3,500 in a bogus land deal.

Misheck Chimutandaro (44) appeared before Harare magistrate Ruth Moyo facing fraud charges.

He was granted US$200 bail and remanded to a later date.

Prosecutors allege that sometime in December last year, the complainant, Douglas Gwishiri, came across a WhatsApp advertisement for a 1,000 square metre residential stand in Eastview, which had allegedly been posted by Chimutandaro.

Interested in the offer, Gwishiri allegedly contacted the accused and arrangements were made to view the stand.

The court heard that on December 13, last year, the two met at the property in Eastview where they agreed on a purchase price of US$6,000.

Chimutandaro allegedly produced a UDcorp card as proof of ownership, convincing Gwishiri that he was the legitimate owner.

Gwishiri paid US$3,000 in cash and agreed to settle the balance through monthly instalments.

It is alleged that in February this year, Gwishiri made an additional payment of US$500 after being told the money was required to facilitate development of the stand.

Chimutandaro allegedly went on to solicit a further US$50, claiming he was broke and needed to forward the funds to Tongogara Housing Cooperative.

The scam came to light when Gwishiri visited the stand, intending to clear the land, and was confronted by another individual who claimed ownership of the property.

Further inquiries with the Ministry of Local Government allegedly revealed that the stand belonged to someone else and not the accused.

The total value of the prejudice is US$3,550 and nothing has been recovered.