Chinese businessman Yao Zhao appeared before Harare regional Marehwanazvo Gofa this afternoon facing a charge of defrauding his Zimbabwean business partner of US$370 000.
Yao (29) was arrested at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport while attempting to leave the country.
He was remanded in custody to Friday for bail application.
The complainant is Myles Karuma (33), who is Yao's co-director at SABRICORP Trading (Private) Limited.
According to the State, sometime in November 2023, Yao approached the complainant with a proposal to form and register a company to import excavators from China for re-sale.
They then formed SABRICORP Trading (Pvt) Ltd.
Thereafter, the two imported 4 x 22 tonne excavators and 4 x 38 tonne excavators using the company's name.
Upon arrival in Zimbabwe, it is alleged that Yao converted the machinery to own use, depriving the company and his co-director.
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The complainant realised that he had been duped and filed a police report, leading to Yao's arrest.
