Mechanic defrauds client, claims he imported engin...

Mechanic defrauds client, claims he imported engine from SA

Michael Mashiri

A mechanic, Jealous Bonomali, who had developed a habit of defrauding his client whom he allegedly brought a sub-standard Toyota Quantum engine, claiming to have imported it from South Africa, has appeared before the Harare Magistrates' Courts.

Bonomali, 39, of Acacia Road, Westage, appeared before magistrate Dennis Mangosi charged with fraud.

The complainant in this matter is Munyaradzi Koveredzai, 44, of Marlborough.

The State, through Zebediah Bofu, alleges that sometime in September 2022, Koveredzai, who owns a Toyota Quantum that had developed an engine problem, contracted Bonomali to fix the problem for US$2 900 and the problem was resolved.

During the same month, the same Quantum developed a similar problem and Koveredzai approached Bonomali, who again suggested the acquisition of another engine, D4D from Glendale.

Koveredzai accepted Bonomali’s suggestion and gave him US$2 500 to buy the engine and the car became operational.

In October 2022, the same car developed a mechanical fault and Bonomali, who seemed to now have been obsessed with fixing the similar problem on Koveredzai’s car, advised him to buy a different engine model from South Africa and convert the car.

Bonomali then promised Koveredzai that he had the capacity to import the engine from South Africa and charged him US$2 500 which was meant to buy a Quantum 2KD engine model and pay import duty fees.

US$700 was to be used for wiring on arrival.

Koveredzai obliged and paid the US$2 500 to Bonomali, anticipating that he would honour his promise.

In December 2022, Bonomali allegedly lid to Koveredzai that he had successfully imported the Toyota Quantum engine from South Africa and claimed US$100 meant to cover transport costs, which Koveredzai paid.

Koveredzai had paid all the money meant to import the engine from South Africa and fit it onto the car but nothing materialised, resulting in him making enquiries which unearthed that Bonomali had acquired locally available sub-standard Toyota Quantum engine as he had no capacity to import the engine from South Africa.

Koveredzai made a police report, leading to Bonomali's arrest.

As a result, US$2 600 was prejudiced and nothing was recovered.

Mangosi ordered Bonomali to deposit US$100 as bail. He also ordered him to report at Marlbereign Police Station every Friday until his matter was finalised.

He will appear in court on September 19 for his routine remand.