Man loses US$100k in juju trebling scam

Michael Mashiri

Zim Now Correspondent

A man from Marlborough, Harare, allegedly lost US$100 000 to a longtime friend who claimed the money would treble to US$300 000 after giving it to him.

Jean-Piere Kingombe, 49, of Marlborough, appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts charged with fraud.

He was ordered to appear in court on May 29, for bail application.

The State alleges that in December 2023, on December 4, 2023, James Munetsi who is complainant’s longtime friend, together with his two accomplices approached the complainant at his workplace.

Munetsi introduced his accomplices as magicians who had the power to multiply money.

They conducted a test run in which the accused multiplied US$10 to US$30 and shared US$30 with the complainant, which was used to buy refreshments.

Munetsi then persuaded the complainant to source large sum of money, giving him assurance that if the deal materialises it would boost his business.

The court heard that on December 7, 2023, the accused - who was with Kamuproko - went to the complainant’s residence where the complainant called Munetsi and was assured that the deal would be successful and, as a result, he agreed to the deal.

With the assurance from Munetsi, the complainant gave accused and Kamuproko US$100 000 on condition that they would realise a total of US$300 000 which they were going to share.

The accused wrapped the money after mixing it with pieces of black paper and some unknown white substance.

The accused placed the money in a box, which he made the complainant believe it was an incubator and in that box there was a bunch of papers of similar size to the bundle of money.

It is alleged that after the incubation time had lapsed, the accused took the bundle of paper from the incubation and gave it to the complainant, leaving the bunch of money in the incubation box.

He told the complainant not to open the bunch that he had given him until 24 hours had passed, after which they would open it together and share the money.

It is alleged that after waiting for 24 hours, the complainant checked for the money and discovered he had been defrauded.

As a result, the complainant was defrauded US$100 000.