Con artist nabbed when he targets same victim twic...

Con artist nabbed when he targets same victim twice for introduction fee

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Munyaradzi Mashiri—Court Correspondent

A Harare man who tried to target the same victim twice in a property deal has appeared in court.

Charles Mapara, 34, and Collen Matsokoto, 46, appeared before magistrate Isheunesu Matova on charges of fraud at the Harare Magistrates' Courts.

Mapara was released on US$200 bail, while Matsokoto, who is alleged to have defrauded the same victim of US$38,000 in 2015, was remanded in custody until Monday for a bail application.

Samson Machokoto was the injured party in the matter and reported the incident leading to the arrest of the suspects.

The prosecution, through prosecutor Nomsa Kangara, told the court that in January of this year, the two devised a scheme to defraud Machokoto.

It is alleged that an accomplice currently at large, Nomatter Mahute, contacted the complainant via an Econet line.

He told Machokoto about a house for sale in Hatfield, Harare.

On March 18, while at work in Hatfield, Machokoto received a follow-up call from Mahute.

He was directed to Mapara, whose Netone cell number was shared.

The two subsequently arranged a meeting at Jongwe Corner, Hatfield, where they connected that very day.

It is alleged that during the meeting, Mapara entered the complainant's car, and they drove to the purported property located at 29 Arlington Road, Hatfield.

When they arrived, Mapara showed Machokoto the house and was asked for details and contact information of the registered property owner; however, he declined to provide this information.

While Machokoto and Mapara were discussing the deal, Matsokoto called Mapara, inquiring about the transaction's progress.

It was then that Mapara requested the complainant to pay a US$20,000 cash facilitation fee, claiming it was necessary to introduce him to Matsokoto, who he referred to as the agent responsible for connecting him with the property owner.

Suspicion arose when Machokoto heard Matsokoto address him by name during the phone call, as he recognized Matsokoto as the same individual who had previously defrauded him of US$38,000 back in 2015.

Realizing he was being targeted again, Machokoto executed a citizen's arrest on Mapara, confiscating his cellphone, and promptly escorted him to the ZRP Hatfield police station to file a report.

ZRP officers, Hatfield then utilized Mapara to set up a call with Matsokoto, leading to the latter's arrest at Jongwe Corner, Hatfield.