Defence Forces HQ and Pari drawn into US$4k bread ...

Defence Forces HQ and Pari drawn into US$4k bread swindle

Munyaradzi Mashiri

Zim Now Court Correspondent

A 36-year-old man accused of repeatedly charging Innscor Africa Private Limited customers for bread he allegedly failed to deliver has appeared in court.

Chenjerai Shiri, of Nyatsime, Beatrice, was brought before the Harare Magistrates' Court on fraud charges. He was ordered to post a US$200 bail and is expected to return to court on January 10, 2025.

The complainant, Inscor Africa Private Limited, alleges that from October 29, 2023, to March 25, 2024, Shiri charged various clients, including Blessing Kasambira of Zimbiru Express Shop in Domboshava, Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, Mungate Express Shop, and the Defence Forces Artillery Headquarters, for bread deliveries that were never fulfilled. Some of the customers were reportedly outside his designated route.

According to the State, in 2023, Shiri misled Innscor by generating invoices using a mac-mobile machine. He allegedly charged Kasambira of Zimbiru Express Shop a total of US$1 790 without delivering any bread.

On March 23, 2024, Shiri reportedly billed Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals US$1,399.65 despite it being outside his route and converted the payment to personal use without making any deliveries. On the same date, he allegedly billed Mungate Shop US$790, again without delivering bread.

On March 24, Shiri purportedly charged Defence Forces Headquarters US$623, once more failing to provide the ordered bread and instead keeping the funds.

Inscor discovered the alleged theft after credit clients reported unfulfilled orders. The company ultimately reversed the funds to Shiri’s account, totaling a loss of US$4,612.62 for Innscor, with no money recovered to date.