The ManicaPost
Abel Zhakata Senior Reporter—
A VEHICLE theft scam has rocked Mutare where a syndicate is alleged to have duped unsuspecting motorists of their prized assets after forging agreement of sale documents which they used to obtain default judgements at the Civil Courts.
Several motorists lost vehicles worth between $3 000 to $35 000 to the syndicate allegedly masterminded by an ambulance driver employed by City of Mutare, Tendai Richman Chigodora (29).
However, the net is reportedly closing on some of Chigodora’s accomplices whose names could not be disclosed as investigations are in progress. The conmen are alleged to have abused the justice delivery system to rip-off the unsuspecting motorists.
Chigodora of House Number 723, Chikanga 1, was on Tuesday arraigned before the courts on fraud charges.
He appeared before Mutare magistrate, Mr Poterai Gwezhira facing fraud charges as defined in Section 136 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 09:23.
He was represented by Mr Hugo Tanaya of Mugadza, Chinzamba and Partners Legal Practitioners, while Mr Fletcher Karombe prosecuted.
He denied the charges and was granted $50 bail. The case goes for trial on February 9.
Allegations were that on November 28 last year, Chigodora approached the complainant, Herbert Garikai Mbiriri, intending to purchase his Toyota Corolla motor vehicle.
“He paid $100 as commitment fee and was
given a receipt as proof of payment. The accused person promised to pay the $3 600 balance on December 7, 2016. On November 27, 2016, the accused person drafted his own agreement of sale of the same motor vehicle and alleged to have paid $3 100 for the car.
“He went on to forge the complainant’s signature as the seller and that of Thomas Maendaenda as the witness,” said Mr Karombe.
Chigodora allegedly went to Mutare Civil Court and misrepresented to the court that the complainant was refusing to surrender the motor vehicle to him on the strength of the forged agreement of sale.
“The Mutare Civil Court then gave a default judgment in favour of the accused person,” said Mr Karombe.
It is alleged that the complainant was later approached by officials from the Messenger of Court who wanted to attach the vehicle basing on the default court judgment.
Mbiriri refused to surrender the Toyota Corolla and he later made his own investigations to ascertain the origins of the default judgment.
The complainant made enquiries at the Mutare Civil Court and was shocked to learn of the $3 100 agreement of sale which was allegedly forged and used in court in passing the default judgment.
He then reported the matter to the police leading to Chigodora’s arrest.
A Hippo Valley Estates executive, Mr Tarisai Mudambanuki who also allegedly lost his 2013 Toyota Fortuner SUV valued at $35 000 to the same suspect through the same modus operandi was at the civil courts last Friday trying to rescind a default judgment passed against him that resulted in the Messenger of Court attaching his vehicle and handing it over to the suspect.
Judgement over the matter will be handed over next Thursday.
Mudamanuki insists that Chigodora only made a $100 commitment payment, promising to buy the vehicle at a later day.
Days later officials from the Messenger of Court attached the vehicle on the basis of a default judgment which came into being after the suspect allegedly used a forged agreement of sale which showed that he had paid for the SUV.
Mudamanuki has also filed fraud charges against Chigodora, but detectives are awaiting the outcome of the civil court judgment before instituting criminal proceedings against him.
