Man loses US$1 400 in roofing timber scam

Michael Mashiri

Zim Now Correspondent

A man has been taken to court for defrauding money which was meant to buy roofing timber.

Paul Nyadongo, 51, of Sakubva, Mutare, appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts, charged with fraud.

He will appear in court on June 13.

The complainant in this matter is Desmond Chigoma.

The State alleges that in November 2019, Chigoma intended to buy roofing material for his mother-in-law.

He told this to his former workmate, Tendai Muunganirwa, who referred him to Nyadongo.

Chigoma allegedly contacted Nyadongo and met him along Fourth Street near Road Port and was given a quotation of US$1 400 on specified timber that Chigoma required.

The court heard that Chogoma paid US$1 100, which Nyadongo acknowledged by signing in Chigoma’s diary.

Nyadongo was supposed to deliver after two weeks.

After around two weeks, Chigoma requested for the balance, which was paid by Chigoma’s mother-in-law into Nyadongo’s Ecocash account using local currency equivalent to US$300.

After clearing the balance, Chigoma made a follow-up on the delivery of the timber but Nyadonga started giving excuses.

He became evasive and started avoiding communication with Chigoma, leading him to make a police report.

As a result, US$1 400 was defrauded.