Mbare man and accomplices connive to sell non-exis...

Mbare man and accomplices connive to sell non-existent truck

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Michael Mashiri

A Mbare man, Ernest Mhondamapango, 34, appeared in court for defrauding a complainant of US$2 500 after lying that they had a truck they were selling but could only deliver it after being paid a deposit.

The State alleges that on April, 6, 2023, the complainant in the matter wanted to buy a Toyota truck and he searched for it online, after which he hooked up with Mhondamapango.

Mhondamapango and his other two other accomplices came up with a plan to steal from complainant by using two South African and three Econet numbers to communicate with him.

As a way of confirming the truck's availability, Mhondamapango and his accomplices posted its picture to the complainant and he liked it.

That is when they agreed on a sale deal online.

The truck was priced at US$4 500 and the complainant was made to pay a deposit of US$2 500 and the balance was to be paid upon delivery.

The complainant was made to go and pay the deposit to Mhondamapango who was said to be a business partner since payment through transfer was having challenges.

The complainant obliged and gave Mhondamapango US$2 500 cash and received a fake proof of payment from his accomplices through WhatsApp.

When the complainant made follow ups on the truck, that is when Mhondamapango started coming up with different excuses and no truck was delivered. A police report was made and Mhondamapango was arrested.

He appeared before magistrate Denis Mangosi who granted him ZWL100 000 bail and requested him to return to court on May 29.