IT techie swindles US$1 million from Harare org...

IT techie swindles US$1 million from Harare organisation

Police last night arrested a Harare man who has been on the run after swindling his employer of money estimated to be worth around USS 1 million.

Kundai Charles Mahachi who was employed as an Information Technology technician at African Business Women Association was last night arrested on charges of fraud.

He had been on the run and is expected to appear in court soon.

ABWA, represented by director Shamiso Fred says an ongoing audit will give the exact amount siphoned, but places the figure in the US$1 million range.

ABWA alleges that Mahachi used his position as IT technician to manipulate systems and divert funds from the company’s accounts to his own personal stashes.

He allegedly diverted funds on 300 contracts that ABWA was supposed to be paying out to.

When challenges were detected and Mahachi was asked to account for the contracts, he claimed that they had been eaten by organisation security dogs that had spent the night on office premises while waiting to be transported to a farm the following morning.

Mahachi could not explain how payments were being processed if contracts were not in place.

The suspect is further accused of copy right infringement after he fraudulently used the ABWA name and a logo of its health SBU to brand his personal car dealership.

ABWA further alleges that the third charge of cybercrimes arises from Mahachi ‘s connivance with fellow employees to hack the organisation’s social media communication groups.