A DIRECTOR with a Harare-based earthmoving trading firm, Fast Tractors, appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court on Monday charged with stealing a motorised grader worth over $155 000 in a botched leasing deal.
CHARLES LAITON SENIOR COURT REPORTER
Benjamin Harurovi was charged alongside his firm over theft of trust property when he appeared before regional magistrate Fadzai Mtombeni.
According to court papers, sometime in May 2012, Harurovi approached the complainant in the matter, African Century Limited, seeking a loan. It is alleged he applied for leasing facility of $155 250 for procurement of a Liugong 418 motorised grader from Megalink Investment after convincing African Century Limited that he had been awarded a tender by Norton Town Council.
African Century Limited approved the leasing of the equipment where the terms of the lease agreement required Harurovi to pay a deposit of $46 575 and thereafter pay 24 monthly instalments of $6 399 after which ownership would be transferred to him. Harurovi, however, allegedly paid the deposit and a month’s instalment. Thereafter, he allegedly failed to pay the agreed instalments and instead sold the grader.
Sometime in August 2012, African Century Limited went to Fast Tractors to carry out periodic inspection of the grader, but Harurovi failed to produce the grader, prompting the complainant to report him to the police.
Investigations established that Harurovi had sold the grader back to Peter Owen Murumbi of Megalink Investment for $155 250 in breach of the lease agreement.
It was also established that in August 2012, African Century had obtained an order at the High Court under case number HC11139/12 which was a default judgment against Harurovi for writ of execution of the debt and delivery of the grader.
