The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura
Rusape Correspondent
A DARING till operator at a Rusape wholesale allegedly generated a fake receipt of goods worth $6,2 million which he used to defraud his employer.
Ashely Kariwo (22) who was employed as a till operator by Gain Wholesalers in Rusape was arrested and appeared in court recently.
Kariwo who was represented by Mr Tendai Bvuma of Bvuma and Associates was not asked to plead when he appeared before Rusape magistrate, Ms Rutendo Machingura, who granted him $20 000 bail.
Prosecutor, Mr Marlon Makamba said using the fake receipt, Kariwo took groceries worth $4 880 500 and when he attempted to collect the balance, his alert assistant branch manager noticed the suspicious transaction and informed the police.
“On May 18, 2022 at Gain Wholesalers, Kariwo was on duty and originated a receipt of goods worth $6 299 650 and lied to the assistant general manager, Mr Isaac Dembetembe, that he had used a Nedbank swipe machine to pay for the goods.
“On the same day, Kariwo hired Tatenda Ndebele who proceeded to Gain Wholesalers and collected goods worth $4 880 500 which he offloaded at a house in Vengere.
“The goods were left in the custody of Patrick Mapurazi who then bought part of the goods which comprised 200 cases of flour and 100 cases of sugar,” said Mr Makamba. It is alleged that on May 19, Mr Dembetembe made a follow-up of the transaction from Nedbank and discovered that it was not reflecting in the company’s account.
“On May 22, Kariwo hired Ndebele again to ferry the remaining goods. Mr Dembetembe confronted Kariwo and advised him that the transaction he purported to have made was not reflecting in the company’s bank account. He called the police to investigate the issue,” said Mr Makamba.
When quizzed by detectives, Kariwo admitted defrauding his employer and led them to where the stolen goods were stashed.
“Upon being interviewed by the police, it was discovered that Kariwo had misrepresented to Gain Wholesalers that he had made an online payment.
He was arrested and led detectives to the Vengere house where stashes of flour were recovered.
“Mapurazi, who had the recovered goods, admitted that he had bought part of the stolen goods from Kariwo and sold them. Mapurazi led detectives to Never Mandizvidza to Chikuse Business Centre where more flour were recovered.
“Mandizvidza also led detectives to Vengere Bus terminus where four cases of flour were recovered from Tawanda Mutungwe.
“The total value of stolen goods is $4 880 500 and goods worth $3 615 580 have been recovered,” said Mr Makamba.
