adminFungai Lupande Court Reporter
Avim Investments (Pvt) Ltd managing director Shepherd Tundiya yesterday appeared in court accused of duping his business partner of about $81 000 in a botched foundry coke deal.
Tundiya (28) is also facing allegations of selling his VW Golf which was held as collateral to a Harare man.
He pleaded not guilty to two counts of fraud when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Elijah Makomo.
In his defence, Tundiya said he never received any payment on behalf of his business partner.
On the charge of duping a vehicle buyer, Tundiya said the matter was a purely civil contractual dispute which was cancelled by the buyer.
The complainant in the first case is Pavelong Trading represented by its loss control officer Ms Sarah Hwingwiri.
Prosecutor Mr George Manokore alleged that sometime in January last year Tundiya was contracted to supply foundry coke to Afrochine Pvt Ltd.
It is alleged that Tundiya convinced Pavelong Trading to purchase and supply the foundry coke. However, the agreement was that Pavelong Trading would receive payment from Afrochine Pvt Ltd. It is alleged that between October and November Pavelong Trading supplied the foundry coke to Afrochine Pvt Ltd amounting to $81 786. Tundiya allegedly approached Afrochine Pvt Ltd and misrepresented that he was the owner of the foundry coke and demanded the payment. Acting on the misrepresentation Afrochine Pvt Ltd paid Tundiya. In the second matter the complainant is PSMI critical careness Mr Shepherd Mano. It is alleged sometime in 2014 Mano was looking for a vehicle and saw Tundiya’s VW Golf which was on sale. The vehicle was at Enterprise Car Sale and was costing $4 000. Mano contacted Tundiya and he requested a deposit of $2 000. It is alleged that the money was paid into his Ecobank account. On July 11, last year Tundiya advised Mano to proceed to the car sale and collect the vehicle. However, at the car sale Mano was told that the vehicle was being held as collateral and could not be released to him.
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