$12m Econet fraudsters given bail

Michael Mashiri

The fraudulent duo that scammed $12 464 000 from Econet Wireless have been granted $100 000 bail each.

Simbarashe Nyakudanga (29) of Glen Norah A, Harare and Tafadzwa Gede (41), who resides in Hillside, Harare, appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Court charged with fraud as defined in Section 136 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.

The court was intimated that Nyakudanga and Gede were employed by Econet Wireless Zimbabwe as Voice Product Officers.

In the period from 1 June, 2022 to 31 October, 2022, the two accused persons connived and created a portal using Econet Wireless Zimbabwe's system, and fraudulently credited their Econet mobile numbers as well as their friends and relatives' mobile numbers, airtime credits worth ZW$12 464 000, to the prejudice of Econet Wireless, Zimbabwe.

Magistrate Dennis Mangosi, who presided over the case, ordered each to pay $100 000 bail, not to interfere with witnesses, report once per week at their nearest police station and must continue to reside at the addresses given to the court until the matter is resolved.