Treasurer forges signatures to steal plus US$21k

Michael Mashiri

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Treasurer, Tapiwa Chizikani, 35, of Sunway City has been taken to court for defrauding the organisation of US$21 800.

Chizikani was charged with fraud by magistrate Dennis Mangosi.

The complainant, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport represented by Tapiwa Christopher Mujakachi, 45, who is the chairperson of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.

It is alleged that from August 2023 to January 2024, Chizikani, who is a signatory to Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport's CABS account number, on eight different occasions forged signatures of other signatories to the account by counter signing for them on withdrawal slips after endorsing his signature as one of the signatories.

The court was informed that Chizikani took the forged documents to CABS bank on eight occasions and made withdrawals of US$21 800 and put the money into his own use.

The offence was discovered when Mujakachi who had been elected as the new chairman requested for a bank statement so that he could see the financial status of the Institution.

A bank statement was obtained and after going through it, the chairman discovered that there were some unauthorised withdrawals which had been made by Chizikani.

He approached other signatories to find out whether they were aware of the withdrawal and which they said they were not.

They denied signing any withdrawal slips during the period in question.

A report was made to the police leading to the arrest of the accused on June 28, 2024.

The total value prejudiced is US$21 800 and nothing has been recovered.

He was granted a bail of US$150 and will appear in court on July 22 for his routine remand.