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Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
A fraud suspect on the run since 2011 for allegedly defrauding a Harare businesswoman of more than US$900 000 was recently arrested.Future Chirango Muvirimi (48), owner of Downtown Petroleum (Pvt) Ltd, has since appeared in court charged with fraud.
It is alleged Muvirimi misrepresented to the directors of Broad Fuels (Pvt) Ltd that one of his companies, ADDX Trading 528 (Pvt) Ltd, was a registered agent of a South African fuel company SASOL, and that therefore he could supply fuel.
He was given US$988 104 by one of the directors, Mrs Pedzisai Garwe, to buy 705 724 litres of diesel and allegedly converted the money to his personal use.
Muvirimi appeared in court on Saturday before magistrate Mr Elijah Makomo ,who remanded him in custody to today for a ruling on his application for bail.
He is being represented by Mr Charles Chinyama. The State, led by Miss Skangele Mahlamvana, opposed bail on the basis that Muvirimi was a flight risk. “The accused has strong ties in South Africa and where he is suspected to be a permanent resident. Ever since 2011 he has been evading arrest and has been on police wanted list. Your Worship, if granted bail the accused is a likely to abscond trial,” she said.
In response Mr Chinyama argued that his client was a suit- able candidate for bail; he contended that the dispute was a civil rather than a criminal matter and that the State’s case if it proceeded to a criminal trial was weak.
After hearing submissions from both counsel, Mr Makomo remanded the matter to today for bail ruling. It is alleged that Mrs Garwe had previously dealt with Muvirimi who would be paid and deliver the fuel in time.
Sometime in December 2008, Muvirimi allegedly received US$988 104 for the procurement of more than 700 000 litres of diesel.
It is the State’s case that he told the directors of Broad fuels that he was to deliver the fuel within 14 days but nothing materialised .
Mrs Garwe approached him in 2011 and he continued giving false promises prompting her to report to the police leading to Muvirimi’s arrest on January 31 this year.
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