Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka
Court Correspondent
THREE Harare men are facing fraud charges after they allegedly presented a counterfeit purchase order to obtain solar systems worth US$41 172 from a local firm.
Ngoni Sabawu (29), the managing director of Globe Trotter Entertainment Centre in Goodhope, Sam Tinashe Muyandi, a private taxi driver and Tendai Mashamhanda (47) appeared before Harare regional magistrate, Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa.
They were granted US$200 bail each and remanded to July 15.
The complainant, Caplaw Enterprises Private Limited, was represented by its general manager, Mr Michael Steven Searing.
Prosecutor Mr Lancelot Mutsokoti alleged that on April 16, 2025, the accused, led by a fugitive accomplice, Thomas Karonga, approached Caplaw Enterprises with a counterfeit purchase order.
The document falsely claimed they had been authorised by Energy Park Fuels to procure solar systems intended for Energy Park Service Stations across the country.
To make the scheme appear credible, the accused took the complainant to the Energy Park Service Station in Mbare for a site visit, showing where the solar systems were supposedly going to be installed.
On May 22, Sabawu, Karonga, and another accomplice, Tawanda Chipembere (also still at large), allegedly hired a truck at Mbare Musika.
They then collected seven sets of 15 KVA solar systems valued at US$41 172 from Caplaw Enterprises, claiming they were destined for the Energy Park Mbare site.
On May 27, the complainant visited Energy Park to confirm the installation of the solar systems, only to discover that Energy Park had not ordered any solar equipment.
The purchase order was confirmed to be fake. Upon reviewing CCTV footage at their office, Caplaw Enterprises identified Sabawu, his Mazda Demio vehicle and his accomplices conducting the fraudulent transactions.
A police report was subsequently filed. Following police investigations, Sabawu, Muyandi, and Mashamhanda were arrested.
Two solar panels were recovered from Muyandi, but the bulk of the stolen goods are still not accounted for.
Caplaw Enterprises suffered a loss of US$41 172 and only US$200 worth of property has been recovered so far.
