A 49-YEAR-OLD man yesterday appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court facing allegations of swindling Imperial Refrigeration Company of $49 000 after promising to deliver raw materials and services from South Africa.
BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE
Rogers Emmanuel Mukaro, who owns Plaintech (Pvt) Limited, was not asked to plead when he appeared before provincial magistrate Tendai Mahwe and was remanded to October 26 on $500 bail.
Allegations against Mukaro and his alleged accomplice, Kudakwashe Muchena, who is still at large, are that on September 22 this year, Muchena phoned Imperial Refrigeration from South Africa indicating that he was in a position to supply South African rands to the company’s suppliers in the neighbouring country and would in turn require the equivalent amount in United States dollars payable in Zimbabwe.
The State alleges, Imperial Refrigeration, which gets its raw materials from South Africa, was agreeable and promised to release the US dollars after a confirmation of deposit from its South African supplier.
The firm allegedly instructed Muchena to pay R378 000 into Frigoglass South’s FNB Bank account and R337 895 into Metrackark (Pvt) Limited’s Nedbank account respectively.
The State alleges on September 24 an unknown person sent a scanned copy of deposits to the FNB Bank account for R128 000 and R250 000 and to the Nedbank account for R195 000 and R142 000 to the refrigeration firm through a WhatsApp platform as confirmation of the deposits. It is alleged Imperial Refrigeration then requested its suppliers to confirm if the amounts deposited had reflected and they confirmed deposits had been made.
The firm then made a bank transfer to one Tatenda Matevera’s Barclays Bank account after Mukaro had requested her banking details.
- 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
However, on September 28, Imperial Refrigeration was shocked to hear from the South African suppliers that the transaction effected in South Africa had failed as the cheques were dishonoured.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to Mukaro’s arrest.
Sebastian Mutizirwa appeared for the State.
