COURT CORRESPONDENT
A Harare magistrate has removed from remand, three men who were accused of defrauding a local businessman of US$11,000 in a disputed offshore payment deal.
Albert Savanhu (55), Alen Marimbe (56) and Mthokozisi Mpofu (31) were denying the fraud allegations against Matthew Manyangadze, the Managing Director of Redmark Service Private Limited, trading as StemMagnetics.
The trio was freed and the State was ordered to proceed by way of summons if it wishes to pursue with the case.
Allegations are that on January 6, 2022, Marimbe, who is a friend of Manyangadze, heard that the latter was looking for someone with an offshore account to pay his supplier Computrone Estore FZE Saif Zone based in Dubai.
It is also alleged that the following day, Marimbe then hatched a plan with the other two accused persons to misrepresent that Savanhu had some money in his offshore accounts.
Manyangadze is alleged to have been interested in the arrangement and he forwarded the banking details of his supplier to Marimbe via WhatsApp and instructed for a transfer of US$11 000.
Claims are that after transferring the money to Manyangadze’s supplier, the trio was going to then receive the cash from him here in Zimbabwe.
Allegations are that on the same day around 1pm, Savanhu then forwarded a proof of payment using his Econet WhatsApp account into Marimbe’s number and this was later forwarded to Manyangadze’s number, alleging that he (Savanhu) had transferred US$11 000 to the supplier.
Acting on the proof of payment from Marimbe, Manyangadze instructed his Operations Manager Diploma Mudarikwa to deliver US$11 000 to the trio.
Mudarikwa went to Chisipite Shopping Centre in Harare, where he met Savanhu and Marimbe whom he handed the money, which was all verified.
On January 11, 2022, Manyangadze was informed by his supplier that no money had been deposited into their account and they indicated that failure to get the money, they would not send the consignment from Dubai to Zimbabwe.
Claims are that Manyangadze then revealed to the Savanhu and Marimbe that the transaction was unsuccessful.
When Manyangadze met Savanhu and Marimbe in Harare, it is said Savanhu then implicated Mpofu, saying he was the recipient of the money and had defrauded Manyangadze.
During the meeting, it is said Mpofu acknowledged receipt of the money and promised to pay back Manyangadze on January 29, 2022; if the transaction was not successful.
It is further alleged that the agreement was signed by all those who were present.
Manyangadze is alleged to have realized that he had been duped and he made a police report and during investigations, it is said cellphones belonging to Manyangadze and the trio were taken to the Zimbabwe Republic Police Cyber Laboratory and all proof of payments, WhatsApp messages, audios, pictures and documents from all the parties involved were retrieved by the cops.
All the retrieved information will be produced in court and Manyangadze is said to have lost US$11 000 and nothing was recovered.
Allegations are that in January 2022, Marimbe, a self-employed banking consultant and acquaintance of Manyangadze, purportedly offered to facilitate an offshore payment to a Dubai-based supplier, Computrone Estore FZE Saif Zone.
It is said Manyangadze transferred US$11,000 to the trio, believing the funds would be sent to his supplier.
Claims are that when the supplier reported that no payment had been received, Manyangadze confronted the accused.
Mpofu allegedly acknowledged receiving the funds and promised repayment if the transaction did not succeed.
Despite a written agreement, the funds were never recovered, leading Manyangadze to file a police report.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police Cyber Laboratory conducted an investigation, retrieving WhatsApp messages, proof of payment documents, and other digital evidence.
The trio is denying the charge.
