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A SITE engineer of a construction company who allegedly hired out company equipment and pocketed the proceeds amounting to more than US$25 000 has appeared in court charged with concealing transactions from a principal. Sikhalela Thako Sikhalela was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Anita Tshuma who remanded him out of custody on US$100 bail.
He was also ordered to surrender his travel documents and to report once a week at CID Serious Frauds.
The complainant in the matter is Drawcard Construction which is in the construction business and hiring its plant and equipment to both individuals and companies.
In October 2011, Drawcard got a tender to construct NSSA hotel in Beitbridge and Sikhalela was seconded to be the site engineer in charge of the project.
It is alleged that Sikhalela was approached by three corporates which wanted to hire Drawcard equipment.
Between the period extending from June 19 and 25 this year Sikhalela hired out 14 cubic metre tipper trucks, a Hyundai excavator, 10 000 litre bowser, grader, a Bell front loader, a pocket vibrator and a compressor.
He was allegedly paid US$18 000 for the hire and he did not disclose to his employer. 0Between 26 November 2012 and April this year he allegedly hired out tipper trucks, front loader and grader to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority in Beitbridge and he was paid US$5 642 which he did not disclose to his employer.
On the third count the State alleges that between April 19 and 23 this year Sikhalela hired out 14 cubic metre tipper trucks and a Hyundai Excavator to Redan Petroleum Beitbridge for US$2 300 and he did not inform his employer.
On April 24 this year Drawcard carried out a routine audit which revealed that Sikhalela on all three counts deceived clients by using a Drawcard logo to purport that the transactions were done for the benefit of Drawcard whereas they were done for his benefit, the State further alleges.
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