Paymaster defrauds employer of 10k

Faith Ndlovu

Sunday News Reporter

A 36-year-old Bulawayo man has appeared before the Bulawayo Magistrate’s court facing allegations of 12 counts of fraud after he allegedly abused his duties as a paymaster of a local mining company and inflated pay rolls for 12 months, converting more than US$10 thousand into his personal use.

McDonald Coffee appeared before Bulawayo Magistrate Mr Abednico Ndebele on charges of fraud for money worth US10 703 89.

He was remanded in custody to 7 January 2025 for continuation of trial.

According to court papers, the accused person was employed by the complainant as a paymaster at Criterion Mine. His duties among others were to prepare the pay roll, request for cash from the director and pay the workers their dues.

The complainant is the director of the mine.

Representing the state, Mr Joseph Rugara told the court that on count one, sometime in January 2024, Coffee misrepresented to the complainant that workers were supposed to be paid cash amounting to US$39 856,35 well knowing that they were supposed to be paid US$38 857,35.

“As a result of such misrepresentation, Coffee was given US$39 856,35 and paid workers US$38 857,35 and converted cash amounting to US$999 to his own use. On count two, sometime in February 2024, Coffee misrepresented to the complainant that workers were supposed to be paid cash amounting to US$38 401,28 well knowing that they are supposed to be paid US$37 616,64.

“As a result of such misrepresentation, Coffee given US$38 401,28 and paid workers US$37616,64 and converted cash amounting to US$784,64 to the prejudice of the complainant. On count three sometime in March 2024, Coffee misrepresented to the complainant that workers are supposed to be paid cash amounting to US$42 651,72 well knowing that they are supposed to be paid $41 651,39,” said Mr Rugara.

He said as a result of such misrepresentation, Coffeee was given US$42 651,72 and paid workers US$41 651,39 and converted cash amounting to US$1000,38 to the prejudice of the complainant.

On count four, Coffee in April 2024 misrepresented to the complainant that workers are supposed to be paid cash amounting to US$39 856,35 well knowing that they are supposed to be paid US$38 857,35.

Mr Rugara said as a result of such misrepresentation, Coffee was given US$39 856,35 and paid workers US$38 857,35 and converted cash amounting to US$999 to the prejudice of the complainant.

“On count five, the allegations are that sometime in May 2024, Coffee misrepresented to the complainant that workers are supposed to be paid cash amounting to US$38 369,73 well knowing that they are supposed to be paid US$37 416,85.

“As a result of such misrepresentation, Coffee was given US$38 369,73 and paid workers US$37 416,85 and converted cash amounting to US$952,88 to the prejudice of the complainant,” said Mr Rugara.

On the last six counts, the court heard that from June 2024 to December, Coffee continued to use the same modus operandi of misrepresenting to the complainant that workers were supposed to be paid cash amounting to a higher figure well knowing that they were supposed to be paid a lesser.

As a result of such misrepresentation, Coffee was given monies which he paid workers and converted the remaining cash to the prejudice of the complainant.

According to the state papers, evidence linking the accused persons to the commission of crime was found, the complainant managed to positively identify the accused person. The total value stolen is US$10 703,89 and nothing was discovered.