A LOCAL medical drug supplier, Floralsplah Investments, has been taken to court on allegations of defrauding Harare Central Hospital of $63 226, following a botched pharmaceuticals supply deal.
BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE
The company’s director, Stansfield Dhokwani, was not asked to plead when he appeared before magistrate Josephine Sande on Wednesday and was remanded to November 29 on $500 bail.
The hospital was being represented by its chief executive officer, Peggy Zvavamwe.
Allegations against Dhokwani were that sometime in 2008, Larryscope Health Care (Pvt) Ltd was awarded a tender by the Ministry of Health and Child Care to supply pharmaceutical products at Harare Central Hospital.
It is alleged the circumstances were that the hospital would issue requisitions for supply of goods and Larrysope would supply the goods for payment.
It is the State case that on December 21, 2010 the hospital requested for pharmaceutical products valued at $8 400 from Larryscope and on February 11, 2011 they supplied the products and the hospital acknowledged receipt of products.
The State alleges on February 15 of the same year Dhokwani, in connivance with his accomplices who are still at large, forged a letter purportedly emanating from Larryscope Health Care, advising the hospital to transfer all the payments into his company, Floralsplah Investments’ bank account.
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Acting on the misrepresentation the hospital allegedly transferred all the money into Floralsplah Investment bank account, after which Dhokwani used the same modus operandi whenever the hospital requested supply of pharmaceuticals from Larryscope.
The State alleges after the hospital had transferred the money, Dhokwani and his accomplice would then withdraw the money and convert it to their own use.
The offence came to light after Larryscope Health Care made a follow up on the debt at the hospital and discovered that payment was made into Dhokwani company’s bank account.
The matter was then reported to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) who carried out investigations, leading to Dhokwani arrest.
Sebastian Mutizirwa appeared for the State.
