Man dupes 62-year-old over Ruwa stand

Michael Mashiri

Cherible Enterprises Pvt Ltd has been arraigned to court accused of fraud involving US$17 000.

Charible Enterprises Pvt Ltd, represented by Blessing Boka, 40, Glen Lorne, appeared before magistrate Munashe Chibanda at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts.

The complainant in this matter is Esther Mutawa, 62, of Manresa, Mabvuku.

The State, through prosecutor Grace Mugocheke, alleges that in February 2022, Mutawa decided to sell her flat at Block 9, Flat 108 Willowvale, intending to buy another house in Ruwa.She met Patrick Mapanje through Whatsapp groups who introduced her to Boka.

Boka told Mutawa that she could sell the flat and gave him the money from the sale as payment for stand number 27349, Ruwa Township, Goromonzi, measuring 277 square meters and the construction of a three-bedroomed house.

The two agreed on US$17 000 as the total value of the stand and the three-bedroomed house.

Mutawa then sold her flat, which was paid for in two instalments. The first instalment was for US$5 000 and the second was for US$12 000.

On February 9, 2022, after the first instalment of US$5 000, Mutawa took the money and gave it to Boka as payment towards the stand and house.

Boka told Mutawa that she would occupy the premises after three months from the date of final payment.

On May 16, 2022, Mutawa made another payment of US$12 000 as the last payment and acknowledgement of receipt if the money was signed by Boka.

Boka and Mutawa then signed an addendum to the first agreement where they agreed that the date of occupation was amended to nine months after the final payment and the date was February 16, 2023.

In January 2023, Mutawa checked for progress at the stand but discovered that there was no progress.

She then tried to engage Boka but he stated that he had decided to build the house in Greendale as opposed to what they had agreed.

After the deadline day, Mutawa discovered that there was no progress that was taking place and engaged Boka who eventually became evasive and ended up not picking calls and his number became unreachable.

That led her to file a police report.

As a result of Boka's actions, Mutawa lost US$17 000 and nothing was recovered.

Boka who was coming from home was ordered to appear in court on September 5.