marble nkomo
Kimberley Chitambara, Sunday News Reporter
TWO suspected fraudsters from Bulawayo have appeared in court for allegedly duping an unsuspecting woman of US$300 and a cellphone in a common street scam popularly known as Chadonha.
Gerald Tendekai Chimpanga (30) and Munyaradzi Nkuruso (31), both of Tshabalala suburb, appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Patience Madondo charged with fraud in terms of Section 136 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
The duo was remanded in custody to January 26.
Chadonha is a well-known confidence trick in which scammers pretend to have found or dropped a large sum of money and lure victims into believing they will secretly share it, only to vanish with the victim’s cash or valuables.
Prosecuting, Mr Joseph Rugara told the court that on December 11 at around 1pm, the complainant, Ms Beauty Ndlovu, was walking when she noticed the two accused ahead of her.
The court heard that Nkuruso deliberately dropped a stash of money, which Chimpanga picked up, prompting a staged exchange that drew the complainant’s attention.
Chimpanga then engaged Ndlovu in conversation and persuaded her to accompany him to a secluded area under the guise of secretly sharing the “found” money.
“Acting in concert, Nkuruso later turned back and approached Chimpanga, demanding his money,” said Mr Rugara.
Chimpanga allegedly feigned ignorance, denying knowledge of the money, while Nkuruso pretended to search for it among people nearby before walking away.
The court heard that Chimpanga then misrepresented to the complainant that the money amounted to US$4 200, which they intended to share.
To gain her trust, the accused allegedly asked Ndlovu to surrender her cellphone as security before proceeding to the secluded place where the money was to be shared.
“Acting upon the misrepresentation, the complainant handed over her Huawei Nova 9 cellphone, which had US$300 inside the phone pouch, and was given a bundle of money in return,” said Mr Rugara.
The accused persons then disappeared with her phone and money.
Ndlovu later discovered that the bundle she had been given contained only US$1 wrapped in old newspapers.
She attempted to call her cellphone without success before reporting the matter to the police.
Sometime this month, the accused were spotted by street vendors, who apprehended them and escorted them to the police station, leading to their arrest.
Online Reporter