A 24-YEAR-OLD suspected fraudster appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court on Friday, charged with illegally wiping out Attorney-General Prince Machaya’s salary using a cloned debit bank card.
BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE
Martin Kapeta, who is charged together with a shop assistant Molleen Karen Ntoya (20), were not asked to plead when they appeared before magistrate Josephine Sande, who granted them $100 bail each and remanded the matter to April 12.
It is the State’s case that on February 26 this year, Machaya received his $4 343 monthly salary, which was deposited into his Agribank account and on the same day at around 5pm, Kapeta went to Gain Cash and Carry Wholesale with a debit card, which was a replica of Machaya’s.
The State alleges Kapeta allegedly approached the managing director of Shamamba Trading Company, Pacific Bananabantu, who wanted to buy sugar using cash. Kapeta asked for the cash and offered to buy the groceries with the cloned card and Bananabantu accepted the proposal.
It is alleged Kapeta allegedly used the cloned card to purchase 192 cases of brown sugar valued at $3 302 and the money was deducted from Machaya’s bank account. Soon after the transaction had gone through, Machaya received a text message advising of the deductions.
The State alleges after the purchase Bananabantu gave the cash to Kapeta and subsequently collected his sugar. The following day at around 10am, Machaya reported for work where he received another alert message from his bank that $873 had been deducted from his account.
This prompted Machaya to file a complain with the bank and was advised to report the matter to the police. Investigations were carried out leading, to the arrest of Kapeta and Ntoya.
- 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
Sebastian Mutizirwa appeared for the State.
