Man loses over US$4k fraud in car importation scam

Michael Mashiri

Zim Now Correspondent

A man has been taken to court accused defrauding more than US$4 000 which was meant to purchase a car.

Tawanda Muzhingi, 31, if Mandara, Harare, appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts charged with fraud.

He was granted US$300 bail and will appear in court on June 4.

The complainant in this matter is Nicolas Mugauri.

The State alleges that in September 2021, Mugauri approached Muzhingi for assistance in importing a Toyota Vitz new shape from Japan.

On March 4, Muzhingi went to Mugauri’s workplace and was given US$3 000 for the car.

He then wrote an acknowledgement receipt, which the two signed.

Later on the same day, Muzhingi sent a copy of proof of payment of US$3 680 which was in the name of Mugauri’s wife and claiming that it was from Be Forward.

It is alleged that Muzhingi went on to tell Mugauri that he had used US$680 from his pocket so as to secure the car.

Muzhingi told Mugauri that the car would arrive in Dar es Slam on April 22.

After the lapse of the waiting period, Muzhingi contacted Mugauri and told him that his car had arrived in Dar es Slam and he wanted money to start the clearing process and was given US$500.

Muzhingi told Mugauri that the car would arrive in Dar es Slam and he wanted US$180 for a ticket to fly to Tanzania and get the car and he was invited to Mugauri’s offices and was given the money for the air ticket.

Later during the day, Muzhingi sent a photo of an air ticket which he claimed to have bought for the journey which shows that he was supposed to go there on May 6.

Mugauri requested Muzhingi to approach Zimra so that he could have the duty calculated and he promised to do that.

After a week without any feedback from Muzhingi, Mugauri approached Muzhingi to find out whether there was any progress.

Mugauri then went to Muzhingi, he requested for the importation documents which he failed to produce.

That is when he took him to the police.

As a result, Mugauri lost US$4 780.