PROMINENT Bulawayo businessman Dinesh Naran, who was convicted over a fraud case involving ₣64 994 has been further remanded in custody to December 6.
REPORT BY SILAS NKALA STAFF REPORTER
The court deferred making a ruling on his application for bail pending mitigation and sentence.
Magistrate Owen Tagu yesterday said he would deal with all issues relating to the matter on that date.
Naran, who is represented by Munyaradzi Nzarayapenga, was supposed to be sentenced yesterday.
But he asked for the case to be postponed to allow his lawyer to make written submissions for review of the State case after he queried the exchange rate used on the amount involved in the fraud case.
“My client is asking that he be allowed to appeal for the review of the State case pending sentence,” Nzarayapenga said.
“He, therefore, requests that the court restore him to his bail of $200, of which he would report to the police Criminal Investigation Department twice a day.”
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
The court heard that Naran (51) of Killarney suburb in Bulawayo on December 19 2006 misrepresented to Harare businessman Paradzai Mutandwa Chakona that he could help him import a Mercedes-Benz ML250 CDL model from England using his free funds.
Naran claimed the vehicle was worth ₣64 994.
As a result, Chakona paid him Z$580 922 400, which was equivalent to $134 200 at the time.
On February 9 2007, Naran faxed a fraudulent Barclays Bank transfer document purporting that he had transferred ₣30 000 to suppliers of the vehicle, Stenham Global Services Limited, based in England.
On February 13 2007, Naran faxed another fraudulent Barclays Bank transfer document to Chakona purporting he had transferred ₣16 150 to the same company for the purchase of the vehicle.
On June 13 2008, Chakona discovered that the transfers were in fact, fake, and approached Naran demanding an explanation.
The court heard that Naran apologised to Chakona and made a signed undertaking promising to reimburse the $134 200.
Naran, however, dishonoured the agreement, prompting Chakona to report the matter to the police, leading to the businessman’s arrest in June 2010.
He started appearing in court on June 10 2010, when he was granted bail.
Goodluck Katenaire prosecuted.
