Bogus CIO officer arrested for conning job seeker

Michael Mashiri

A man who allegedly lied that he was a Central Intelligence Organisation officer and could help the complainant for a fee has been taken to court.

Kakonyo Trymore, 35 of Budiriro 3, appeared before magistrate Ethel Chichera at the Harare Magistrates' Courts charged with fraud.

The complainant in this case is Zhou Simbarashe, 21.

The State, through Grace Mugocheke, alleges that sometime in April 2023, Kakonyo allegedly lied to Zhou that he was a Central Intelligence Organisation officer and would facilitate his recruitment into the same department.

Kakonyo allegedly demanded US$565 from Zhou as inducement for the recruitment.

Zhou believed Kakonyo and gave him the money.

After the payment, Zhou later contacted Kakonyo checking on progress he had made but he became evasive.

The court alleges Kakonyo received money from Zhou knowing that he was not part of the Central Intelligence Organisation and could not facilitate his recruitment there.

Kakonyo was ordered to deposit US$60 bail at the Clerk of Court and will appear in court on November 10.