admin
Court Reporter—
A Ministry of Energy and Power Development assistant accountant allegedly converted to personal use about US$2 700 meant for other employees’ travel and subsistence allowances.
Calisto Muteveke (32) of Harare appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe last Friday charged with fraud, and was remanded to May 29 on US$200 bail.
Mr Mahwe ordered Muteveke to surrender his passport, continue residing at the given address and to report once every Friday at CID Frauds pending finalisation of the matter.
The complainant in the matter is Ministry of Energy and Power Development, represented by its chief accountant, Ms Margaret Musabayana.
The court heard that Muteveke was responsible for foreign travel and subsistence allowances calculations and disbursements.
Prosecutor Ms Sharon Mashavira alleged that in August last year Muteveke was tasked to process travel and subsistence allowances for Mr Cannan Mangani and Mr Johannes Mukambaiza, who were travelling to Austria for a workshop between August 10-31, 2013. It is alleged that the two were to get US$1 990 each but Muteveke told Mangani and Mukambaiza that their travel and subsistence allowances were US$630 apiece. The two reportedly signed for the money from the cash-out register.
Upon their return from Austria, Muteveke allegedly told them that the register was lost and they had to sign in a new one. Mangani and Mukambaiza allegedly discovered that the new register indicated they received US$990 each but Muteveke nonetheless convinced them to append their signatures.
They, however, reported the matter to another accountant, Mr Dzaguma Janda, whose investigations showed that Muteveke had allegedly stolen US$2 720 due to them.
A police report was made leading to Muteveke’s arrest.
Online Reporter