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A 37-year-old Bulawayo woman operating as an illegal foreign currency dealer commonly known as osiphatheleni was yesterday sentenced to an effective two-and-a half years in jail for outsmarting a client and duping her of $400.Memory Mago had been approached by the complainant, Ms Francisca Phiri who intended to exchange her $400 for 4 000 pula.
Mago of House Number 1908 New Magwegwe suburb was convicted on her own plea of guilty to fraud by Bulawayo magistrate Mrs Charity Maphosa.
She was sentenced to three years in prison of which six months were suspended on condition that she pays back the complainant $400 on or before 12 March 2014 through the clerk of court.
The prosecutor, Mr Shepherd Nhamburo, said on 3 September at about 1pm, Ms Phiri went to an area between Fort Street and 5th Avenue in Bulawayo.
The spot is synonymous with illegal foreign currency transactions. On arrival she met Mago who offered to exchange her $400 for the Botswana currency at an exchange rate of 1:10.
Soon after she was given the money, Mago excused herself under the guise that she wanted to collect extra money from a friend before disappearing into the crowd.
When Ms Phiri realised that Mago was not returning she immediately went to report the matter to the police. Mago was arrested the following day when she was positively identified by Ms Phiri during an identification parade. The stolen money was not recovered.
Online Reporter