Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
A 55-YEAR-OLD Seke man has been jailed 36 months for duping a businessman of US$22 000 on the pretext that he could import a tipper truck from the United Kingdom on his behalf.
A tipper truck, also known as a dump truck or tipper lorry, is a robust truck designed to transport loose materials like gravel, sand and waste.
Stephen Chatukuta of Ushewokunze Village in Seke recently appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court where he was sentenced to 36 months in prison of which 24 months were suspended on condition that he restitutes US$22 000 by June 30, 2025 and the remaining 12 months were suspended on condition he performs 420 hours of community service at St Hughes Primary School in Ushewokunze, Harare.
In a statement, Criminal Investigations Department (CID) spokesperson Detective Inspector Rachel Muteweri said, “Sometime in March 2018, Chatukuta misrepresented to the complainant that he had the capacity to import a Foden 32 tonne Tipper from the United Kingdom at a cost of
US$22 000. This prompted the complainant to make a full payment for the heavy duty vehicle after which the accused promised to deliver the vehicle within three months.”
Upon the lapse of the alleged period, the accused person became evasive, prompting the complainant to file a police report, which led to the subsequent arrest of the accused.
Peter Tanyanyiwa