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Zvikomborero Parafini
TOP medical doctor Professor Jonathan Matenga was duped of over ZWG860 000 by his employees who allegedly created a parallel payment system which diverted payments into their own accounts, a Harare court has heard.
Professor Matenga owns the Diagnostic Heart Centre.
The court heard that one of the suspects, Tholakele Nokuthula Moyo, was employed as an electro-cardiogram technician.
Her duties, among other things, were to carry out heart tests and occasionally she would man the reception and receive payments from patients.
The State alleged that between January 2020 and November 2023, Moyo and her accomplices — Abigail Mwinjilo and Elizabeth Mutirwara — allegedly connived to steal from their employer.
They then went on to register Econet mobile numbers 0775 019 812 and 0771 153 305 for EcoCash services in the name of Professor Matenga, without his knowledge.
Thereafter, they diverted payments made by patients for medical services at Diagnostic Heart Centre to these EcoCash lines and then they would transfer funds into their individual EcoCash accounts.
It is alleged that they went on to falsify the receipt books, tampering with the carbon copies to make it appear as though patients had made bank transfers, while in fact they had made EcoCash payments.
The offence came to light when one patient approached Professor Matenga requesting for completion of medical Aid forms and presented a receipt that did not match receipt books at the surgery.
The case was reported to the police and, during the course of investigations, Moyo was lured to the police station leading to her arrest.
Nothing was recovered.
Moyo appeared before magistrate Isheanesu Matova who released her on US$100 bail.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter