adminMr Tanyanyiwa lost US$15 000 while Ms Sekai Nzenza lost US$91 500 to Edward Nkatazo (46) the director of Fasfit Pvt Ltd.
Nkatazo misrepresented to Mr Tanyanyiwa that his friend was leasing out a service station before collecting US$15 000 as part of rent purporting he was acting on behalf of the owner.
He is now being charged with two counts of fraud involving US$106 500.
Nkatazo was not formally charged when he appeared before Harare Magistrate, Ms Anita Tshuma, who granted him US$200 bail.
As part of bail conditions, Nkatazo was ordered to surrender his passport and to report once a week at CID serious frauds.
Nkatazo will be back in court on August 15 for routine remand.
Appearing for the State, Mr David Magwegwe, alleges that sometime in November last year Nkatazo visited Ms Nzenza and misrepresented to her that Mr Archie Dzumbira was selling a house in Christonbank.
It is alleged Ms Nzenza got interested and was further told by Nkatazo that he was the one facilitating the sale. He also told her that Mr Dzumbira had ordered him to collect the money on his behalf.
Ms Nzenza, the court heard, told her sister who is in Australia about the house and she also got interested and sent her the money.
Without any suspicions, Ms Nzenza who knew Nkatazo as a family friend, gave him US$91 500 for the house, the court heard.
It is further alleged Ms Nzenza requested for an agreement of sale but Nkatazo who knew that the house was never on sale, gave several excuses.
On the second count, Nkatazo, it is alleged, approached Mr Tanyanyiwa and misrepresented to him that his friend was leasing a service station for US$20 000.
Mr Tanyanyiwa got interested and gave Nkatazo US$15 000 as part of the rentals after Nkatazo had told him that he was collecting the money on behalf of the owner of the garage.
It is the State’s case that after receiving the money, Nkatazo told Mr Tanyanyiwa that he was going to arrange a meeting between him and the owner.
Nkatazo disappeared with the money and Mr Tanyanyiwa made efforts to locate him but to no avail, it is alleged. Nkatazo was arrested on June 28 this year.
Online Reporter