US$1m truck deal lands four in court

Court Reporters
Four South Africans suspected to be part of a syndicate that swindled a Harare woman of US$1 million in a truck supply deal have appeared in court on fraud charges.
Casimjee Bilal (28), Henry Radebe (57), Samuel Risimati Baloyi (60) and Sydney Masito Sekgobela are accused of conniving with Ping Sung Hsieh (awaiting extradition hearing) to swindle Olga Bungu of US$1 million in a deal in which they were supposed to supply her with six Scania trucks.
They were not formally charged when they appeared before Harare provincial magistrate Mr Mishrod Guvamombe.
It is alleged they connived to import South African-registered trucks that they would purport were part of the delivery and later return them across the border.
Their lawyer Ms Beatrice Mtetwa applied for refusal of remand saying there was no reasonable suspicion that her clients committed the crime.
She argued that they were merely independent drivers who were used as pawns in a big game.
Chief law officer Mr Chris Mutangadura opposed the application arguing that the four knew of Ping’s extradition hearing in South Africa and they brought the trucks to cover up his crime.
“By trying to bring trucks whose temporary import permits expire on March 4 this year – the day Ping is set to appear in the South African court for case in question – it is a clear perpetration of a crime.
“They assumed the common purpose by bringing the trucks that they knew were not being delivered permanently,” he submitted.
Mr Guvamombe threw out the application saying the four were liable to skip bail.
They were remanded in custody to March 9.
Mr Mutangadura alleges that sometime in 2007, Hsieh told Bungu he could supply her with six Scania trucks and six-drop side trailers for US$1 million.
The cost price, it is alleged, included driver training.
Hsieh allegedly advised the complainant that the trucks would be delivered upon payment.
On August 22, 2007 the complainant allegedly deposited US$1 million into Chantra Trading’s company account with Standard Bank, South Africa.
However, the State says, the trucks were not delivered.
On July 24 last year, Hsieh was arrested in South Africa and is awaiting an extradition hearing.
On February 18 this year, it is alleged, Hsieh hired the four drivers to bring into Zimbabwe Iveco trucks with South African number plates registered under another of his companies, Fast Truck Haulage CC.
They had temporary import permits which expire on March 4 and for unknown reasons were left at Grace Mugabe Orphanage Home on February 19 at around 9pm.
It is alleged they wanted to give the impression that they had delivered some of the trucks.
The State says Hsieh intended to take the trucks back to South Africa after March 4.