Wenslus Murape
Zvikomborero Parafini
A WOMAN, who wanted to relocate to the United Kingdom, has been duped after paying over US$5000 towards a certificate of sponsorship to a suspected fraudster.
Tinashe Mubaiwa, 36, the suspected fraudster, appeared before Harare magistrate Ruth Moyo charged with fraud.
He was remanded in custody to today for bail considerations.
The complainant is Nolanda Mulande of Domboshava.
Prosecutor Polite Chikiwa alleged that in March, Mulande contacted Mubaiwa with the intention of being assisted with the process of acquiring a Certificate Of Sponsorship (COS).
A few days later, Mulande met Mubaiwa, who was in the company of Terrence Ncube who is at large, and they confirmed that they had one Certificate of Sponsorship which was going for £4 300.
Mulande then negotiated with Mubaiwa to pay in United States dollars and they agreed that the total amount would be US$4 950.
On March 21, Mulande met the two at Harare Central Police Station and they continued to misrepresent to her that they had the COS and she paid US$1000.
Ncube allegedly then received US$1 800, US$650, US$1 500 on different occasions from Mulande.
Ncube told Mulande that her health certificate was wrong and she was supposed to pay US$160 for the correction of the certificate and she sent the amount to him through Ecocash on her number.
The number was registered in the name of one Trevor Manyonda.
A few days later Mulande tried to contact the two, who then became evasive, prompting her to file a police report in September.
Nothing was recovered.
Mathew Masinge