Thieves milk ZWL$5 million using stolen phone

Michael Mashiri

Two men have appeared in court on allegations of using a stolen phone to steal money from the uncle of their victim

Nixon Murwira, 37, and Ndauya Paradza, 48, appeared at the Harare Magistrates' Court accused of fraud as defined in Section 136 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, Chapter 9:23.

The complainant in this matter is Fadzai Mangoma of Greendale, Harare.

The court was told that on January 15, the pair, working together with a third suspected only identified as Valentine, sent a message to Mangoma on WhatsApp. They used Tatenda Semu's account. Semu is Mangoma’s nephew.

The message requested Mangoma to assist Semu with RTGS money equivalent to US$1 000 at a rate of ZWL950 per US$1.

Mangoma assumed that the message was coming from his nephew. He responded to the message saying he had sent ZWL$1 800 000.

Murwira and Paradza then sent Bank ABC and NMB bank accounts and instructed Mangoma to transfer ZWL$500 000 into NMB account number in the name of M. Hotera and he did that and sent proof of payment.

Mangoma was further instructed to transfer another ZWL$1 500 000 into Bank ABC in the name of Eunice Moyo and he transfered the money and sent proof of payment.

They then asked for more money from Mangoma who engaged his wife Linda Gumbo to transfer more money to them.

Murwira and Paradza communicated with Linda through a NetOne line and asked for more money.

Gumbo who did not have sufficient funds asked her workmates Dr Manyuchi and Dr Chikadaya to assist.

The two accused gave Gumbo a ZB account number which had the name Dennis Tendai Bango which she sent to Dr Manyuchi who then transferred ZWL$1 000 000. Gumbo also instigated the transfer of ZWL$1 000 000 from Dr Chikadaya into a CABS Bank account number in the name of Aloius Makava.

Gumbo further arranged the transfer of ZWL$582 000 into a CABS Bank account number in the name of Lovemore Kambeu by Dr Chikadaya. She also transferred ZWL$418 000 from her CABS Bank account into the same account.

On 16 January 2023, Mangoma realised he had been deceived by the two after discovering that his nephew's phone had been stolen.

This prompted a report that was made to the police resulting in the arrest of the two and sebsequent recovery of US$300 from Murwira.

The police also recovered US$961 from Makava who had received part of stolen funds. As a result Mangoma lost ZWL$5 million and US$1 261 was recovered.

The matter was postponed to 23 March 2023 pending finalisation of investigations.

Magistrate Dennis Mangosi who presided over the matter gave a bail of ZWL100 000 to each of the accused.