Sales consultant steals over US$132k, resigns

Michael Mashiri

Former sales and marketing consultant for Zambezi Drift Safaris, who resigned upon knowing that the company had discovered that he had defrauded it of US$132 733, has appeared in court.

Byron Rocher, 42, of Greendale, appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Courts charged with fraud.

The complainant in this matter is Dunhuramambo Private Limited, trading as Zambezi Cruise and Safaris Zimbabwe, represented by Philip Dobinson, who is the chief executive officer.

The State through prosecutor Pardon Dziva, alleges that sometime in February 2020, Dunhuramambo, employed a new bookkeeper, Sandra Mackey Theresa, 70, who was responsible of issuing petty cash to staff, including Rocher and generate salaries for low level employees.

In turn, Rocher would countersign in every payment to be made, serve for his salary that was made by his superiors.

He came with a way of abusing his position of authority and also take advantage of the age of the bookkeeper.

From November 17, 2020 to December 31, 2022, Rocher on several occasions, generated petty cash requests for various reasons, ranging from payment of school fees, salary, medical expenses and many others and submitted to the bookkeeper for possessing.

In turn, the bookkeeper processed the fraudulent payments without questioning her immediate supervisor, Rocher.

She disbursed the money as and when it was requested.

During the same period, Rocher also misrepresented to Jacqueline Parsons, the bookkeeper of Dunhuramambo Private Limited’s sister company in South Africa styled Zambezi Cruise South Africa and instructed her to make his personal payments for various expenses incurred in that country, knowing that he was not entitled to that money.

The offence was revealed when Dunhuramambo employed a new accountant who discovered that Rocher was getting his salaries and also went on to fraudulently obtain money from the bookkeeper.

As a result, Dunhuramambo suffered a loss of US$132 733 and nothing was recovered.

Rocher was ordered to deposit US$500 as bail.