Man hires cars, sells them

Michael Mashiri

A man who allegedly was in the habit of hiring cars and selling them to other people has been taken to court.

Batsirai Mhungu, 44, of Engineering, Highfield, appeared before magistrate Donald Ndirowei charged with theft of a motor vehicle.

He was ordered to appear in court on April 4.

The State, through prosecutor Anesu Chirenje, alleges that on January 15, at number 266 Herbert Chitepo Road, Mhungu and his accomplice – who is still at large - hired a car, white Toyota Corolla.

The State alleges that he used fake credentials as Jobert Munyaradzi and signed an agreement of sale using them.

He was supposed to return the car on January 17, but failed to return it.

It is alleged that he went on to manufacture a fake registration book for the car.

He then sold the car to one Edson Hwema for US$5 000 using the fake documents.

The complainant realised the offence and made a report to the police, leading to the arrest of Mhungu and the recovery of the stolen car.

The State also alleges that on February 24, at Glow Service Station, Showground, along Bulawayo Road, Mhungu hired a car, a Toyota Corolla Axio.

He used fake identification details reflecting that he was Kenneth Change and signed a car hire contract.

He was supposed to return with the car on March 1, but failed to return it.

He then made a fake registration book for the car on February 29.

Mhungu allegedly went on to sell the car to Shadreck Shonhiwa using fake documents.

The complainant discovered the offence and made a police report, leading to Mhungu’s arrest and the subsequent recovery of the stolen car from Shonhiwa.