Man in court over US$51 000 theft

Michael Mashiri

A Tynwald man stands accused of stealing US$51 546 in an illegal black market currency deal.

Gerald Pondai, 30, of Tynwald North, Harare appeared before magistrate Dennis Mangosi at the Harare Magistrates' Court last week, facing fraud charges.

The state alleges that on November 15, 2021, complainant posted in WhatsApp broadcast requesting for a payment of ZWL$10 000 000 to a company called Resimunde Investments Pvt Ltd.

The first accused, Moses John Munyuki, who has already appeared in Court on this matter and is out on bail responded to the whatsapp broadcast and said that he could make the payment.

Kazinge gave his CABS Bank account number to Munyuki who instructed Pondai to deposit ZWL$6 000 000.

He also gave an Ecobank account number to Munyuki who instructed Pondai to deposit ZWL$4 000 000.

On 16 November 2021 Pondai sent two men who presented fake proof of payment to Kazinge showing that they had paid the ZWL$10 000 000.

Kazinge then gave US$51 546 to them but later realised that no payment had been made leading him to report the matter to the police.