Online Reporter
Prosper Dembedza
Herald Correspondent
Trilis Investments (Private) Limited on Wednesday appeared in court on allegations of defrauding an unsuspecting client of US$56 400 in a botched fuel deal.
The company, represented by Clive Chipondene, is jointly charged with suspected fuel fraudster Malvern Tsikai.
They appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Sharon Rakafa. According to the State’s case, on August 14, Chipondene, through Moreblessing Cherayi, placed an order for 40 000 litres of petrol with Rilco Energy, indicating payment will be made after delivery.
Following this, the complainant initiated a release order for the petrol on behalf of Chipondene (Trilis Investments) and informed the accused that the fuel was ready for loading at NOIC Zimbabwe.
Chipondene then sent a driver to collect the release order from the complainant, which allowed him to load the 40 000 litres of petrol at NOIC Zimbabwe.
After loading the fuel, Chipondene took 27 000 litres from the driver, which was subsequently delivered to Trilis Investments’ service station sites in Chinhoyi, Magunje and Murehwa.
The court heard that Tsikai took the remaining 13 000 litres and delivered them to Mega Fuels and Downtown Service Station.
Court papers show that Tsikai delivered fuel under the complainant’s name and misled buyers into believing that the fuel was from the complainant without the knowledge of Rilco Energy.
When the complainant approached Trilis Investments for payment for the supplied fuel, Chipondene denied any knowledge of the fuel delivered to him.
Realising that he had been duped, the complainant decided to file a police report, which led to the arrest of the accused.
Due to this misrepresentation, the complainant suffered a loss of US$56 400 and nothing was recovered.
