HMMAS internal auditor accused of stealing US$7k

Michael Mashiri

A HMMAS internal auditor has been arraigned before the courts over the theft of US$7 000.

Lamson Rusinamhodzi, 41, of Glen View 3, in Harare, appeared before magistrate Ethel Chichera at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts accused of theft.

The complainant in this matter is Harare Municipal Medical Aid Society, a subsidiary of City of Harare.

The State, through prosecutor Zebediah Bofu, alleges that various occasions from March 2013 to October 2014, Rusinamhodzi allegedly collected money from City of Harare, finance department, which was from members’ subscriptions on behalf of HMMAS.

Upon receiving it, he would sign acknowledgement of receipt forms generated by City of Harare as proof that he had received the money on behalf of HMMAS.

It is alleged that he would be required to hand over all the collected money to HMMAS cash office for receipting, banking and subsequent use by the Society.

The officers at the society cash office would then make a receipt as acknowledgement of receipt of the money.

The person handing over the cash would also be given a copy of the receipt.

The State alleges that on different occasions, Rusinamhodzi collected a total of US$7 000 and used it to his own benefit.

As a result of Rusinamhodzi’s actions, the municipal medical aid society was prejudiced of US$7 000 and nothing was recovered.

He was ordered to deposit US$200 as bail and will appear in court on October 10, pending finalisation of investigations.