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Prosper Dembedza
Herald Correspondent
Two suspected fraudsters have appeared in court on allegations of defrauding an unsuspecting complainant of his house valued at US$33000 using a fake power of attorney.
Prosper Mberengo (22) and Prosper Makuwaza (27) faced three counts of fraud when they appeared before Harare magistrate, Mrs Apollonia Maritya.
They were remanded in custody until Wednesday for a bail application.
The court heard that sometime in May 2020, Mberengo and Makuwaza hatched a plan to defraud the complainant.
Acting in common purpose, the pair misrepresented to the complainant that Elias Musakwa was selling his house in Westlea, Harare, for US$33 000.
Mberengo claimed that he was holding a Special Power of Attorney from Elias Musakwa and was therefore selling the house on his behalf. The complainant and the two accused persons entered into an agreement of sale for the house.
From May 2020 to June 2024, the complainant transferred a total of US$23 500 from his Ecocash account to Mberengo’s Ecocash account (0775 339 714) as payment for the house.
During that same period, the complainant made a cash payment of US$9 500 to the two accused persons.
In June 2024, the complainant decided to occupy the house. He contacted Elias Musakwa to confirm whether he had received the payment from the two accused persons.
Elias Musakwa advised the complainant that his house was not for sale and that he had never engaged the two accused persons to sell it on his behalf. The complainant attempted to engage the two accused persons on several occasions, but they became evasive.
As a result of the accused’s actions, the complainant suffered actual prejudice amounting to US$33 000, and a Honda Fit valued at US$8 500 was recovered.
On the second count, the court heard that in July 2021, the duo hatched another plan to defraud the complainant of his cash. Acting in common purpose, they misrepresented to the complainant that Elias Musakwa was selling 16 cattle for US$7 200.
During that same month, the complainant and the accused persons agreed to the sale of the cattle. The complainant transferred cash amounting to US$7 200 from his Ecocash account to Mberengo’s Ecocash account as payment for the cattle.
The complainant further transferred cash amounting to US$800 for stock clearance and US$1 700 for the clearance and issuance of a Veterinary Permit to Mberengo’s Ecocash Account.
The complainant waited for the two accused persons to deliver the cattle as per their initial agreement, but to no avail. He engaged Mberengo and Makuwaza on several occasions, but they became evasive.
As a result of their actions, the complainant suffered a prejudice amounting to US$9 700, and nothing was recovered.
On the third count, the court heard that sometime during May 2024, the two hatched a plan to defraud the complainant of his cash.
Acting in common purpose, Mberengo and Makuwaza led the complainant to believe that there was a Toyota GD6 motor vehicle being sold for US$15,000.
During that same month, the complainant and the two accused persons entered into an agreement of sale for the motor vehicle. The court heard that Mberengo and Makuwaza provided the complainant with an Ecocash Agent Code (040672).
The complainant transferred cash amounting to US$15 000 on several occasions into the Ecocash Agent Code as payment for the motor vehicle. He waited for the duo to deliver the vehicle, but to no avail. He engaged them on several occasions, but they failed to provide a reasonable explanation.
As a result of their actions, the complainant suffered a prejudice amounting to US$9 700, and nothing was recovered.
On the third count, the court heard that sometime during May 2024, the two hatched a plan to defraud the complainant of his cash.
Acting in common purpose, Mberengo and Makuwaza led the complainant to believe that there was a Toyota GD6 motor vehicle being sold for US$15,000.
During that same month, the complainant and the two accused persons entered into an agreement of sale for the motor vehicle. The court heard that Mberengo and Makuwaza provided the complainant with an Ecocash Agent Code (040672).
The complainant transferred cash amounting to US$15 000 on several occasions into the Ecocash Agent Code as payment for the motor vehicle. He waited for the duo to deliver the vehicle, but to no avail. He engaged them on several occasions, but they failed to provide a reasonable explanation.
As a result of their actions, the complainant suffered actual prejudice amounting to US$15 000, and nothing was recovered.
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