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Yeukai Karengezeka-Court Correspondent
The trial of a suspected fraudster Allen Thindwa Mzamu who was allegedly part of an organised syndicate that would misrepresent to Zimbabwean companies that they had free funds to pay suppliers in South Africa in exchange for transfers in local currency and fleeced victims of over over R1,2 million, has finally kicked off.
This was after his attempted to seek a postponement on the basis that his lawyer Mr Tamutsa Muzana needed time to go through the record, was thrown out.
The application was dismissed by presiding magistrate Mr Clever Tsikwa who said Mzamu had given several excuses for postponements since June 3.
Prosecutor Mr Tendai Tapi led evidence from the first witness Mr Zvakatarwa Makoto who is the director of Sitaz Health Care (Pvt) Ltd.
Mr Makoto told the court that in July 2019, he was referred to Mzamu aka Mhandu through his workmate Isaac Nhindiri, who is the operation director for the company.
He indicated that he had free funds in South Africa and was willing to buy surgicals in South Africa on behalf of the company and he would be paid locally.
He also said Mzamu continuously inquired from him to find out when he would be ready to make any payment.
Mr Makoto later on decided to buy a JCB TLB tractor loader and contacted him and on November 28, 2019, Mzamu confirmed that he had made a payment of R 953 925 for the tractor.
He said all the communication with Mzamu was via WhatsApp.
Makoto further said the JCB Polokwane confirmed the payment of the said amount through email which prompted him to transfer ZWL 1 363 538-61 into local fraudulently registered CBZ account number 02124698330010 belonging to Doctor Harrington and Associates.
When Mr Makoto released the money, Mzamu immediately recalled the R953 925 he had deposited into JCB Polokwane’s Nedbank account 1016686161.
Thereafter, he used the money to buy United States of America dollars.
The two accused persons transferred the money from the fraudulently registered CBZ bank account to individuals like Devin Sabapwe, Solomon Magodhiyana, Wilfred Takudzwa Kapiya and Tinashe Ngwerume where the two accused persons took turns to collect the United States dollars.
He said he was told by the police that Sabapwe, Magodhiyana, Kapiya and Ngwerume were approached by the police and this led to the arrest of Mzamu and Raymond John.
Upon their arrest, detectives searched the motor vehicle which they were using, an Audi and recovered a CBZ bank card in respect of Doctor Richard James Harrington, slip with the personal identification number in respect of the card and a Hisense cellphone with an Econet line which was being used to call one of the witnesses.
Mzamu’s action caused Mr Makoto to suffer a financial prejudice of R 953 925 and nothing was recovered.
The trial continues on Thursday with the State leading evidence from more witnesses.
Online Reporter