Businessman in vehicle theft scam

Tendai Gukutikwa Post Correspondent
A MUTARE businessman has been dragged to court in connection with a litany of fraud cases in which he allegedly connived with accomplices to dupe unsuspecting motorists of their vehicles using a cunning modus operandi in which they forged agreements of sale documents which they criminally used to obtain default judgments at the Civil Courts.

Washington Jekanyika (33), who runs Mirirai Driving School, was not asked to plead to fraud charge as defined in Section 136 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 09:23 when he appeared before Mutare magistrate, Mr Tendai Mahwe last week facing three counts.

He was represented by Ms Natsai Nyamwanza of Nyamwanza and Associates Legal Practitioners, while Mr Fletcher Karombe prosecuted.

Jekanyika was granted $200 bail and the matter goes for trial on March 9.

Allegations were that on December 15 last year, Mudukuti NFPK (who is still at large) on behalf of Waxel Enterprises Private Limited, whose director is Jekanyika approached Green Motor Services, intending to lease a warehouse at their premises.

The complainant agreed with Mudukuti and told him that the rentals were $400 per month. The fugitive allegedly deposited $230 towards the rentals, and a lease agreement was made.

“On an unknown date, Jekanyika is alleged to have connived with Mudukuti  and fraudulently scanned the Green Motor Service management signatures which they had signed as acknowledgement of the $230 and changed it to read $69 230.

“On December 25, Jekanyika went to Green Motor Services where he met Albert Mutungura and asked if there were any trucks from Waxel Enterprises that had arrived to offload goods in their warehouse.

“He was informed that there were no trucks in the warehouse, to which he requested to be shown the warehouse. He was shown the warehouse but indicated that he was not satisfied with the service he was being given by Mutungura. The suspect Jekanyika wrote a letter of complaint against Green Motor Service to the effect that he had been denied access to the warehouse, instructing them to attend to his complaint in 48 hours,” said Mr Karombe.

On January 3, this year, Green Motor Services received a notice from Waxel Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd through Mugadza, Chinzamba and Associates Legal Practitioners notifying them that Waxel Enterprises was no longer interested in leasing their premises and wanted a refund of $69 230 that they had deposited for rentals.

In another matter, a Hippo Valley Estates executive, Mr Tarisai Mudambanuki also allegedly lost his 2013 Toyota Fortuner SUV valued at $30 000 to the same suspects.

Allegations were that on December 9, Chigodora approached the complainant, Hilton Chiruka, intending to purchase Mudambanuki’s Toyota Fortuner.

“He paid $100 as commitment fee and was given a receipt as proof of payment. The accused person promised topay the balance later. He then drafted his own agreement of sale of the same motor vehicle and alleged to have paid $30 000 for the car,” said Mr Karombe.

Days later officials from the Messenger of Court attached the vehicle on the basis of a default judgment which came into being after the suspect allegedly used a forged agreement of sale which showed that he had paid in full for the Toyota Fortuner.

Using the same modus operandi, another Mutare man lost his UD truck, Registration Number ABI 2042 to the two suspects when they allegedly forged the amount to $5 400 from $2 400.