Anesu Kurebwaseka Court Reporter
A MUTARE couple lost $8 280 to a bogus estate agent who lied that he would secure a low-density residential stand for them in the city. Stewart Mubare (40) has since appeared before senior Mutare magistrate Mr Innocent Bepura facing fraud charges as defined in Section 136(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 09:23.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded out of custody to December 28. Prosecuting, Mr Fletcher Karombe said on August 10 this year, the complainant, Ellina, went to Belmont Building, Herbert Chitepo Street, and approached Tamirirofa Shirichena.
She told him that she and her husband, Gift Muyamba, were looking for a low-density residential stand to buy. Tamirirofa allegedly introduced her to Stewart, stating that he was an agent and he was the one who could help them.
“Tamirirofa told Ellina that there was need for her to deposit $280 as processing fee. The complainant deposited the money in Tamirirofa’s EcoCash account. On August 11, the accused person phoned the complainant’s husband, Gift, and told him that he had to deposit $6 500 in his CABS Bank, account number 5888923000422392. The following day, Ellina deposit the money that Stewart had requested from her husband into the mentioned bank account,” said Mr Karombe.
From August 26 to sometime early in September, the accused person continued requesting money from the complainant amounting to $1 000. In November, the couple approached Stewart and enquired about the progress in getting the residential stand which he had promised them. The accused person failed to give them a satisfactorily explanation.
Instead the accused person told the complaint that he would give them his stand on 11559 Beira Corridor Phase 2, Mutare, and when the couple went to City of Mutare offices to enquire about the stand, they were notified that the stand had already been repossessed by the council. A police report was made leading to Mubare’s arrest. The money lost amounted to $8 280 and nothing was recovered. The matter was remanded to December 28, 2017 for trial.