Harare man loses US$10 800 in stand deal

Michael Mashiri

Two men who were arrested after defrauding a complainant US$10 800 in a stand deal have appeared in court.

Patrick Hlabati, and Zakaria Tausha, of Budiriro Extension appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Courts accused of fraud.

The complainant in this matter is one Judah Maxwell.

The State alleges that on November 12, Maxwell was looking for a residential stand to buy.

He allegedly asked Hlabati, who is a runner, to look for a stand on his behalf.

Hlabati, who was working with Tausha, lied to Maxwell that there was a stand in Glen View 3.

Maxwell was interested and asked for Hlabati to organise a meeting with the sellers.

Hlabati and Maxwell met with the purported sellers in Crowborough at number 613 where Maxwell’s parents stay.

Hlabati allegedly lied that they had a genuine property by availing all the documentation to Maxwell and also introduced the people we were said to be owners and paid US$10 800.

The offence came to light when Maxwell went to Glen View 3 to verify the authenticity of the property.

When he arrived, he met a neighbour at the said property who told him that the actual owners had died years ago and there was a probability that he had been defrauded.

Maxwell then contacted Hlabati for clarity and he referred him to the purported seller who was no longer reachable.

As a result, Maxwell was duped US$10 800 and only US$790 was recovered.

The two were ordered to appear in court on November 14 for bail application.