Man faces US$46k fraud rap over Certificates of Sp...

Man faces US$46k fraud rap over Certificates of Sponsorship to UK

Michael Mashiri

A man, who allegedly defrauded different people of US$46 000, claiming that he could easily facilitate Certificates of Sponsorship to the United Kingdom but never delivered, has appeared in court.

Takunda McDonald Pfende, 27, of Waterfalls, appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts charged with fraud.

The complainant in this matter is Blessing Gwengwe, 50 of Mabelreign.

The State alleges that sometime in May 2023, Pfende who was with his accomplice Daphne Edwards who is still at large, approached Gwengwe, who is an education and employment agency.

Pfende allegedly told Gwengwe that he had the capacity to give his students Certificates of Sponsorship to the UK to work as nurse aides.

Pfende then asked Gwengwe to refer 53 applicants to him for the CoS and charged each applicant US$850 for the service.

As a result, Gwengwe collected US$46 000 from his 53 students and sent the money using Mukuru and Access Forex into Pfende’s account.

After receiving the money, Pfende allegedly disappeared and was unreachable.

This automatically made Gwengwe to start reimbursing his students.

He reported the matter to the police. On October 14, Gwengwe was told that Pfende was at a family function at his home and told the police, leading to his arrest there.

As a result, US$46 000 was defrauded and nothing was recovered.

Pfende was ordered to deposit US$300 as bail and is set to appear in court on November 28.