The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube Post Correspondent
TWO university students and an accomplice who is still at large allegedly duped a Mutare fuel dealer of 40 000 litres of diesel worth US$38 500.
Batanai Joseph Matiza (22) of Borrowdale in Harare, who is a student at London Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom, and Tanaka Dave Mhaka (21), a student at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, were not asked to plead when they appeared before magistrate Ms Babra Mateko.
They were facing charges of theft of trust property as defined in Section 113 (2) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act, Chapter 9.23.
The pair was remanded out of custody and will be back in the dock on November 30, 2020.
Mr Lancelot Mutsokoti prosecuted.
The court heard that some time in January 2020, Carlton Seke (29) of Yeovil, who is a director at Isomaster Private Limited which is trading as Lopdale Energy, was introduced to Matiza by his business partner, Brendon Thom.
Matiza said he could facilitate the supply of fuel to Kunyu Mine in Mutoko.
ln the first deal, Seke got in touch with Mhaka and 35 000 litres of diesel were supplied to Kunyu Mine on his behalf.
“The business received his payment through Mhaka after he had taken his commission,” said Mr Mutsokoti.
On February 11, 2020, Seke supplied 40 000 litres of diesel to Kunyu Mine through Matiza.
After delivering the fuel, Matiza decided to steal Seke’s money in connivance with Mhaka and Matthew Pasipamire, who is still at large.
Seke had sent Matiza to collect the money from Yu Yan, Kunyu Mine’s manager.
“The three accused persons converted the money to their personal use and went into hiding, thereby leading Seke to make a police report.
Police investigations led to the arrest of Mhaka and Matiza.
