The ManicaPost
Abel Zhakata
A 32-YEAR-OLD Mutare man is facing 10 counts of fraud for allegedly defrauding unsuspecting job seekers of thousands of dollars together with an accomplice who is still at large.
Akim Simbarashe Mukono of House Number 303, Area 3, Dangamvura was on Monday hauled before senior magistrate, Mr Tendai Mahwe, who denied him bail.
Detectives have since launched a manhunt for Nhamo Njivo in connection with the cases.
Mukono was represented by Mr Victor Chinzamba of Mugadza and Chinzamba and Partners Legal Practitioners, while Mr Matthew Chimutunga prosecuted.
The State opposed bail on the grounds that the suspect was a flight risk considering the numerous counts he was facing which are serious offences.
Mr Chimutunga said there was a high possibility that he would be convicted since all the complainants positively identified him as the criminal who defrauded them.
Mr Mahwe concurred with the State and remanded him in custody to February 21 for trial.
The court heard that Mukono used the same modus operandi to defraud the complainants on 10 different occasions since 2015. In one of the counts which happened in November 2015, he defrauded Morgan Makombe (59) of $120.
“On November 6, 2015 at around 7am, the complainant met the accused person and his accomplice near Rothmans in Mutare. The fugitive suspect approached the complainant and told him that they were looking for people who could offload some porridge and get paid $50 after the job and he agreed.
“The complainant then followed the two accused persons to Hellenic Community Centre. At the centre, the other accused person ordered the complainant to surrender his money and put it in an envelope and give it to Mukono who then exchanged the envelope with the one with bearer cheques. He then ordered the complainant to wait for them outside while they go inside the centre, but they never returned,” said Mr Chimutunga.
Police officers at Mutare Central Police Station had a torrid moment to restrain one of the enraged complainants who wanted to assault Mukono during an identification parade.
