R1,2m fraud trial delayed

Yeukai Karengezeka

Court Correspondent

The trial of Allen Thindwa Mzamu who is alleged to be part of an organised syndicate that fleeced victims of over R1,2 million failed to kick off today.

This is the third time this has happened.

In the last court session, Mzamu’s lawyer made an application demanding CCTV footage from the banks that the accused approached to open the accounts he used to fleece people.

Presiding magistrate Mr Clever Tsikwa ruled that the State should liaise with the investigating officer to serve the defence counsel with the CCTV footage if it is available.

However, Mzamu today came with a new lawyer who asked for a postponement to give him more time to acquaint himself with the case.

Mr Tsikwa told the accused person that the matter will proceed on August 14 with or without his lawyer.

Mzamu is facing three counts of fraud and one of possession of articles for criminal use.

In one of the charges, the complainant is Sitaz Health Care, represented by its director Mr Zvakatarwa Makoto.

Prosecutor Mr Tendai Tapi said sometime in July 2019, Mzamu lured Mr Makoto to buy a tractor loader.

Once JCB Polokwane confirmed receiving a payment of R953 925 through email, Mr Makoto transferes ZWL1 363 538-61 into a fraudulently registered CBZ account number 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.

He then used the ZWL1.3 million to buy United States dollars.

The accused person transferred the money from the fraudulently registered CBZ bank account to Devin Sabapwe, Solomon Magodhiyana, Wilfred Takudzwa Kapiya and Tinashe Ngwerume’s accounts. He would then collect United States dollars from these individuals.

The court heard Sabapwe, Magodhiyana, Kapiya and Ngwerume were approached by the police and they implicated Mzamu and Raymond John.

Upon the two’s arrest, detectives recovered a CBZ bank card for Doctor Richard James Harrington and its personal identification number.

Mzamu’s action caused Mr Makoto to suffer a financial prejudice of R 953 925 and nothing was recovered.

He also defrauded R287 000 from Prime Seed Co (Pvt) Ltd in a similar manner.

In another charge, Mzamu had a Zimbabwe national identity card bearing his face but with Adam Andrew’s details.

The ID was being used in committing fraud.