Luthando Mapepa Post Correspondent
A 32-year-old Chipinge man, who duped unsuspecting vendors by pretending to be a ZIMRA official, ran out of luck when he was arrested and appeared before the court on Tuesday.
The accused, Jealous Sithole who resides at 350 CRC, Gaza, Chipinge appeared before senior Chipinge magistrate Mr Joshua Nembaware facing two counts of fraud on Tuesday.
He pleaded not guilty.
Prosecuting, Mr Shamiso Ncube said on an unknown date but during the month of February Sithole approached one of the complainants Fortunate Mapfumo at her homestead and misrepresented that he is employed by ZIMRA.
He lied that he is stationed at Mt Selinda.
“Sithole asked for the sum of $370 from the complainant so that he buys cheap groceries on auction for the complainant at Mount Selinda border post.
“The complainant met the accused at Gabaza bottle store where he gave him R900 and other bond notes to make a total of $340.
“On the same day, the accused approached complainant and told him that there was a new order of grocery and asked for $30.
“The accused did not deliver the grocery and went on to switch off his cellphone,” she said.
On count two, Mrs Ncube said Sithole approached one of the complainants Netsai Chisiku, a female residing at house number 1703, Gaza in Chipinge.
“The accused approached the complainant on the date unknown using the same modus operandi and asked $340 to buy grocery on auction at Mount Selinda border post. He did not deliver the grocery and went on to switch off his cell phone.
“On 28 February the complainant received information that the accused person was at Gabaza bottle store and she alerted detectives leading to the arrest of Sithole,” said Mrs Ncube.
Magistrate Nembaware remanded the matter to March 11 and ordered Sithole to pay $200 bail.