A Budiriro man appeared in court on allegations of fraud after he allegedly sold a residential stand in Marondera to a buyer by falsely claiming he was its lawful owner.
The alleged scheme left the complainant without the property and out of pocket by more than US$21,000.
Simbarashe Mukoko, 32, of Budiriro 4, appeared before the Harare Magistrates Court charged with fraud.
According to court papers, in 2021 Mukoko and his co-accused, Highrange Resources, which is separately on remand before the Harare Magistrates Court under CRB 3427/26, represented to complainant Edwin Karuwo that Mukoko was the lawful owner of Stand Number 7753, Rufaro, Longlands Township, Marondera, and that the property was for sale.
On November 19, 2021, Karuwo allegedly paid Mukoko US$10,000 in cash for the stand. Mukoko is said to have drafted and signed a Memorandum of Agreement of Cession as part of the transaction.
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Between December 2021 and June 2022, Mukoko allegedly received a further US$9,000 from Karuwo through EcoCash transfers.
On June 17, 2022, he allegedly issued an invoice acknowledging receipt of a total of US$19,000 for the purchase of the stand.
Mukoko then referred Karuwo to Highrange Resources, the developer of the property. On July 4, 2022, Karuwo signed a cession agreement with Kuziva Zimunya, who is yet to appear before the court.
Prosecutors further allege that Highrange Resources received an additional US$1,125 from Karuwo for plan approval, comprising US$600 in cash and the balance via EcoCash.
The alleged fraud came to light when Karuwo visited the property to begin developments and discovered that the site plan provided by the developer did not match the stand he had been shown. Prosecutors say the stand he had paid for was not available.
The State alleges that Karuwo suffered prejudice amounting to US$21,425, representing the value of Stand Number 7753, measuring 1,850 square metres. Nothing has been recovered.
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