Online Reporter
Prosper Dembedza
Herald Correspondent
SAVANNAH Beverages and it’s two senior employees have appeared in court on allegations of defrauding Blackbox Investments (Pvt) Limited of US$66 894 and ZWL 124 088 370 in a botched supply of Jade pet industrial chemicals and plastic polymers.
Savannah Beverages Company, its operations manager Alexious Manyanda (46) and its director Simarashe Manyanda (36) were facing fraud and money laundering charges when they appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Marehwanazvo Gofa.
Both executives were freed on US$500 bail. The complainant in the first charge is Blackbox Investments (Pvt) Ltd, represented by its accountant Tinotenda Kevin Badza.
The court heard that sometime in 2022, Blackbox Investments (Pvt) Ltd engaged Savannah Beverages company to supply Blackbox Investiments (Pvt) Ltd with Jade pet industrial chemicals and plastic polymers.
Savannah Beverages indicated that if an advance payment was done it would deliver the product within 14 days.
A first payment of ZWL 101 612 665 was done on May 10 2023 through a bank transfer to Savannah Beverages’ Steward Bank account 1044590798 and a second payment of ZWL 24 717 665 was also made through a bank transfer to Savannah Beverages Steward Bank account 1044590798.
The accused persons with the intention to defraud the complainant, diverted the funds and did not deliver the consignment.
The complainant made several attempts to engage them, but they failed to supply the said chemicals and plastic polymers.
As a result of the accused’s actions, the complainant suffered a total prejudice of ZWL 124 088 370, which is equivalent to US$66 894, and nothing was recovered.
On count 2, the court heard that on May 10 and 17 2023, Savannah Beverages received ZWL 124 088 370 from Blackbox Investments (Pvt) limited, being proceeds of crime from a predicate offence of fraud.
The money was meant for the purchase of Jade Pet Industrial Chemicals and Plastic Polymers.
Payments were made through a bank transfer to Savannah Beverages (Pvt) Ltd Steward Bank account 1044590798.
The accused persons converted the money by transferring it to another account, thereby disguising the true nature and location of the proceeds of crime and evading the legal consequences of possible recovery. As a result, nothing was recovered from them.
