Sundaymail Editor
Online Reporter
An illegal foreign currency dealer, Huggin Chimedza, on Tuesday appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Dennis Mangosi for defrauding a Harare man US$8 000.
It is the State’s case that on November 22, 2022, at around 11.20am, the complainant responded to a WhatsApp advert by Chimedza, in which he claimed to have funds in local currency and could assist anyone who wanted to make some payments to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) in exchange for United States dollars at the prevailing parallel market rate.
The two met on the same day at the corner of Seventh Street and Kwame Nkrumah Avenue in Harare, where the complainant said he wanted to make a duty payment to the tune of $7 250 809 to ZIMRA.
Chimedza told the complainant that he would be able to do the transfer in exchange of United States dollars equivalent to US$8 000.
He then hatched a plan to defraud the complainant by creating a fake proof of payment purportedly showing he had transferred the money from his company’s Spax Management’s bank account to ZIMRA.
He gave the complainant the fake proof of payment, and the complainant handed over the US$8 000.
The offence came to light after the complainant checked with ZIMRA and was told that no payment was made.
A police report was made and Chimedza was arrested on February 2, 2023.
However, nothing as recovered.
Chimedza was remanded in custody to March 29, 2023.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter