Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku, [email protected]
THREE Bulawayo men who appeared in court facing theft charges after they allegedly manipulated an EcoCash software system to steal money from account holders have each been granted US$150 bail.
Nimrod Sibanda (20), Mbongeni Dube (18) and Delight Ncube (24) appeared on Wednesday before Bulawayo Provincial Magistrate Mr Isheunesu Mathoba facing six counts of theft.
Sibanda also appeared before the same court facing two separate charges, independent of his co-accused, which he allegedly committed under similar circumstances.
The trio allegedly stole US$2,102 and ZWL$45,200, while Sibanda faces additional charges involving US$721.
The accused are represented by Mr Tinashe Tashaya of Tashaya Law Chambers.
Mr Tashaya applied for bail for the accused persons, stating that it is their constitutional right and that, at law, one is innocent until proven guilty.
He further argued that the trio were mere agents and not employees with direct access to EcoCash systems.
“Agents do not have access to clients’ information unless Econet systems are porous. SIM replacements can be traced, and that information is not in the State outline. Even if a SIM is replaced, the EcoCash PIN remains the secret of the line holder or can only be accessed by an Econet employee,” he argued.
Mr Joseph Rugara opposed bail for the accused persons, arguing that the offences involved multiple counts and were committed through manipulation of online systems. He said releasing them could result in interference with electronic evidence or flight from prosecution.
“Sibanda was the main actor in the commission of the offence. He is employed at Econet and was responsible for providing information to his co-accused Ncube. They are facing six counts, and if convicted, they face a custodial sentence. If granted bail, they may flee before the completion of the trial,” he said.
“The State believes that the evidence linking the accused persons to the offence is found electronically. Given the delicacy of this matter, the State fears that if released, the accused may tamper with the evidence or continue committing similar offences. They are not suitable candidates for bail.”
In his ruling on the bail application, Mr Mathoba granted each accused person bail of US$150.
Prosecuting, Mr Rugara told the court that on 15 June, near a food outlet situated close to Tredgold Building, Sibanda, Ncube and Dube unlawfully used software called Yamurai to steal US$1,669 and ZWL$11,500 from an EcoCash account holder.
Mr Rugara said they later used the same software to steal ZWL$20,600 and US$75 from another EcoCash client.
“The accused persons further used the same modus operandi to steal US$18. They took another ZWL$2,100 from one Peter Matsika’s EcoCash account. They stole US$340 from Edmore Maphosa’s EcoCash account before taking another ZWL$11,000 from one Emmanuel Chakauya,” he said.
He added that Sibanda, acting alone on two separate occasions, stole US$270 from Letwin Makombe and US$451 from Dzinoreva Mhangarai.
