Fraud
case swallows Zimbabwe Republic Police Chief
Deputy Commissioner-General Innocent Matibiri was impersonated in a scam defrauding Blue Ribbon Foods Limited of maize-meal and wheat bran worth $8 000.
Deputy Comm-Gen Matibiri was subsequently served with High Court summons for failing to pay for the goods prompting him to report the matter to the police.
Stanislaus Mukawo of Mufakose, Harare yesterday appeared before the courts, facing seven counts of fraud.
However, the trial was postponed to June 3 after Mukawo notified the court that he was not feeling well.
The complainant in the matter is Blue Ribbon Foods Limited represented by its finance manager Eustice Mubvurungwa.
It is alleged that on several occasions from October, 2014, Mukawo visited Blue Ribbon Foods Limited purchasing small quantities of mealie-meal and wheat bran purporting he was sent by Deputy Comm-Gen Matibiri.
Mukawo indicated that the goods were for Deputy Comm-Gen Matibiri’s piggery project at his Chidzidzi Farm.
It is alleged that sometimes Mukawo placed cash orders through phone calls to Mubvurungwa. Sometime in July last year Mukawo phoned Mubvurungwa using mobile number 0782 421 929 misrepresenting that he was Deputy Comm-Gen Matibiri.
He allegedly requested Mubvurungwa to authorise him to purchase bulk mealie-meal and wheat bran on a 30 day credit plan. He indicated that the goods were for his piggery project at Chidzidzi Farm and he had the capacity to pay.
After sweet talking the finance manager, Mukawo managed to walk away with 1 000x10kg and 40x50kg of Chibataura roller meal valued at $5 430.
He also obtained 400x25kg and 250x20kg of wheat bran valued at $2 400.
On March 10, this year Dep Comm-Gen Matibiri was served with High Court summons for non-payment of $7 830.
He filed a police report and detectives followed up on some of the vehicles used to ferry the loot.
The drivers Tonderai Machingura, Tinashe Rusike and Tendai Muchenge were picked up. They implicated Mukawo and said they delivered the goods at Tabeth Mudzamiri’s house in Graniteside flats Ardbennie, Harare.
On March 15, 2016 a trap was set for Mukawo and he was arrested outside the gates of another milling company, Victoria Foods in Willowvale industrial area, Harare.
Blue Ribbon Foods lost $7 830 and nothing was recovered.
- Herald
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