Two Harare men are facing fraud charges after they allegedly masqueraded as pastors of a prominent Christian denomination and duped the wife of a senior policeman of chickens worth $1 500, claiming the birds were meant to feed guests attending a church wedding.
Collins Jongwe (37) and Blessing Mukombwe (38) were not asked to plead when they appeared in court last Friday facing charges of defrauding Kangaiso Priscilla Pondo, who is the wife of Senior Assistant Police Commissioner Silence Pondo.
It is alleged the pair got away with 300 chickens. They were remanded in custody to May 7.
The State alleges sometime in February this year, Jongwe, masquerading as an Upper Room Ministry Church pastor, approached Pondo claiming he wanted to buy chickens for a wedding to be conducted at his church.
It is alleged on March 29 this year, the two contacted Pondo over the phone and placed an order for the chickens, but were advised to pay cash upfront.
However, Pondo later told Jongwe and Mukombwe to make a cash transfer after they told her they had failed to withdraw the required cash.
It is alleged Pondo was then instructed to deliver the chickens to Guta RaMwari Church in Glen Norah B.
The court heard Pondo immediately loaded 320 dressed chickens and went to St Peter’s Kubatana near Machipisa where she was instructed to meet a person to direct her to Guta RaMwari.
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It is alleged she was then directed to the church where she offloaded the chickens and was given a purported Kingdom RTGS transfer copy as proof the money had been deposited into her account.
Later on the same day, Jongwe and Mukombwe collected the chickens and before leaving the church premises, gave the caretaker one chicken as a token of appreciation.
It is alleged on two occasions Pondo went to check her account with Metropolitan Bank, but was advised no transfer had been made into the account.
The caretaker later advised her that the alleged fraudsters had just used the church premises as a rendezvous for their transaction, but were not known by any of the congregants.
Pondo then reported the matter to the police, leading to the pair’s arrest.
