Michael Mashiri
A man accused of defrauding home-seekers through selling non-existent stands, has appeared in court.
Lovejoy Nyamande, 63, of Unit M. Seke appeared before magistrate Dennis Mangosi at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts facing fraud allegations.
He was denied bail and will appear in court tomorrow for bail application.
The complainant is employed by Ministry of Finance as a Finance Clerk.
The State, through prosecutor Grace Mugocheke, alleges that sometime in May 2022, Nyamande allegedly created a fake deed of transfer in the name of the actual owner of the stand, one Albert Chauruka, for stand number, 5976 Zimre Park, Ruwa.
He also allegedly created a fake national identification card in the name of Chauruka with correct data but with Nyamande’s face.
After that, Nyamande advertised in the Herald newspaper that he was selling a residential stand for US$13 000, and all interested members were to get in touch with him or his agent on the supplied cell phone numbers.
The complainant responded and met Nyamande and he allegedly identified himself by producing an identification card in the name of Chauruka, which also matched the names that were ascribed on the deed of the transfer document.
The complainant was shown the stand by Nyamande and thereafter assigned his lawyer to do all the verifications and proceed to acquire the property on his behalf.
On June 26, 2022, the complainant paid US$13 000 to Nyamande who was with his agent, while complainant was represented by his lawyer.
The offence came to light when the complainant's lawyer visited the Registrar of Deeds Office to process the transfer of the property and advised that the title deed that had been handed over to him was fake.
As a result, the complainant lost US$13 000.
In another case, the complainant is John Mupindu, 46, of Gweru.
The State also alleges that sometime in March 2023, John Mupindu who is the complainant in this matter, his elder brother John Takawira came across an advert on Facebook in which an agent by the name Tafadzwa was selling stand number 2256 Prospect Township of stand 2898 Prospect Township Waterfalls, Harare, measuring 588 square metres valued at US$35 000 negotiable.
Takawira then told Mupindu about the stand since he knew that he was looking for a stand to buy.
Mupindu allegedly managed get Nyamande’s contact details from one Takudzwa.
After that, Mupindu got in touch with Nyamande on his phone and he allegedly confirmed that he was the owner of stand number 2256 Prospect Township of stand 2898 Prospect Township Waterfalls, Harare, which was for sale.
Mupindu then went to view the stand with Takawira and they negotiated the price of the stand to US$28 000.
Sometime in May 2023, Mupindu, went on to notify his lawyers at Matsikidze Attorneys at Law of his intention to buy the stand.
The lawyers then requested copies of deed of transfer and national identity card of the seller.
On May 12, 2023, Mupindu met Nyamande in Harare CBD and was given copy of deed of transfer and national identity card by Nyamande which had the name of Harold Mukoyi, the real owner of the stand.
The lawyer went to deeds office to check and discovered that the stand was in the name of Mukoyi.
On the same day, Mupindu met Nyamande at Matsikidze Law firm in Eastlea, Harare for payment.
He allegedly then paid US$28 000 and they signed an agreement of sale and they agreed to meet the following morning at Zimra offices so that they would sign the Capital Gains Certificate.
The following day, Nyamande did not go to Zimra as per agreed and Mupindu tried to call him but his phone was no longer reachable.
Mupindu later on carried out thorough investigations with the Deeds Office and discovered that the deed of transfer was fake.
As a result Mupindu lost US$28 000 and nothing was recovered.
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