A HARARE transport operator and his driver yesterday appeared in court charged with fraud after allegedly stealing 251 bales of cotton lint worth $100 000 in a botched transportation deal.
CHARLES LAITON SENIOR COURT REPORTER
Ngoshi Transport operator Tonderai Ngoshi (22) appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court jointly charged with his driver, Munyaradzi Hanyani (34). Their trial was remanded to next month.
According to the court papers, Ngoshi and Hanyani are alleged to have connived with Joseph Zachariah Musa and one Stan, who are both at large, to defraud UTI Zimbabwe.
The two men, who are facing two counts of fraud, on December 21 2012 allegedly mooted a plan to swindle UTI Zimbabwe of the cotton lint destined for South Africa.
It is alleged Ngoshi supplied his international truck to transport 121 bales of cotton lint belonging to UTI Zimbabwe from the Cottco depot in Chinhoyi to Metcash Warehouse in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Pursuant to their plan, it is alleged, Hanyani and Zachariah fitted Ngoshi’s truck with false registration numbers to accomplish the plans. The horse was fitted with registration number ABJ6334 belonging to a Mitsubishi Lancer vehicle and the trailer was fitted with registration number ABJ7793 belonging to a Toyota Hiace.
They also fitted the vehicle with false third plates and certificates of fitness.
- 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
After fitting the vehicle with the false number plates, Hanyani and Zachariah drove to Cottco Chinhoyi where Zachariah — who was at the time driving the vehicle — masqueraded as one P Muzuva.
The truck was loaded with 121 bales of lint which was destined for South Africa, but instead of taking the load to South Africa, the two drove the truck to Waterfalls in Harare where they kept the cotton lint while looking for buyers.
In another count, the two men proceeded to Cottco Kadoma where Zachariah masqueraded as Andrew Phiri and loaded the vehicle with 130 bales of cotton lint belonging to UTI Zimbabwe and destined for South Africa.
It is alleged Zachariah then handed over the vehicle to Hanyani and while all this was happening police detectives had put them under surveillance after gathering information from informers. The truck was then driven from Kadoma to Harare where it was parked at 175 Davies Road in Waterfalls as the men looked for buyers. They were arrested by police leading to the recovery of the stolen cotton lint.
Zachariah was found in possession of a fake passport belonging to Phiri, but with his picture on it.
