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Zvikomborero Parafini
POPULAR Harare social media personality and ex-convict, Kudakwashe Hove, who was jailed for consuming food worth $364 500 at a local restaurant without paying in January last year, is back in court on fresh fraud charges.
Kudakwashe Hove, who is known on social media as @iamhove, appeared before magistrate Dennis Mangosi, who remanded him in custody to today for bail ruling.
His latest charges relate to fraudulently obtaining a solar installation kit and an inverter from two separate companies by using fake proof of payment.
His accomplice, Hilary Tapiwa Javangwe, has already been arrested in connection with the solar kit fraud.
The State said the serial fraudster went to Powerflex Private Limited along Glenara Avenue claiming he wanted to purchase a solar installation kit worth US$900.
He allegedly produced a fake proof of payment which was only discovered after he had left.
The company filed a police report, and investigations led the police to Hove’s accomplice Hilary Tapiwa Javangwe, who was in possession of the car used to transport the goods.
Javangwe implicated Hove and stated that he had already been arrested using a fake name Takudzwa Chirwa in another case.
In yet another case, Hove duped Charity Nyampfukudza at her shop along Chinhoyi Street after telling her that he wanted to buy an inverter being sold for US$300.
He allegedly told her that he wanted to pay using ZIPIT into her nostro account.
She found out that the proof of payment he had shown her was fake and made a police report.
In January last year, Hove made headlines after pleading guilty to defrauding Sabai Thai Restaurant in Ballantyne Park, Harare.
He also pleaded guilty to a theft charge for stealing the restaurant’s manager cellphone, which had been left on the counter.
Magistrate Noticia Shenje sentenced Hove to 12 months’ imprisonment of which three were suspended on condition that he pays Sabai Thai Restaurant $364 500 for the food and US$70 for the phone he stole.
A further three months were suspended on condition that he doesn’t commit a similar offence in the next five years, leaving him to serve six months behind bars which he served last year.
Online Reporter