A BULAWAYO woman who allegedly defrauded local musician Mrs
Sandra Ndebele-Sibindi of $100 000 in a foreign currency deal was yesterday
released on $500 bail.
Simangani Gwemende (45) of Emganwini suburb allegedly
connived with Amanda Onwuchukwu and Lindiwe Ndlovu whose ages and residential
addresses were not revealed in court to defraud the musician.
Onwuchukwu and Ndlovu are still at large. Gwemende and her
two accomplices had allegedly agreed to source foreign currency for Mrs
Ndebele-Sibindi.
Bulawayo magistrate Mr Lizwe Jamela remanded Gwemende to
January 29 and ordered her to report twice a week at Nkulumane Police Station
and to continue residing at her given address until the matter is finalised.
She was also ordered to surrender her passport and not
interfere with State witnesses.
In his ruling, Mr Jamela said the fears by the State that
if released on bail Gwemende would abscond were baseless.
“The accused person is innocent until proven guilty.
Incarcerating her for a long time means she would be denied freedom,” said Mr
Jamela.
In her bail application through her lawyer Mr Costa Dube of
Dube and Associates, Gwemende argued that there were no compelling reasons
warranting her continued detention.
She disputed the State’s assertion that she had been on the
run when she recently visited South Africa on business.
“There was no formal communication that she was wanted by
the police. As a law-abiding citizen who has no record or previous convictions,
she is supposed to be granted bail,” argued Mr Dube.
The State, which was represented by Mr Denmark Chihombe
opposed the application arguing that Gwemende was facing a serious offence
hence she was likely to abscond if granted bail.
Prosecuting, Mr Chihombe said on October 12, 2018, Gwemende
and her accomplices connived to defraud Mrs Ndebele-Sibindi.
“The accused person approached the complainant and
misrepresented to her that she was in a position to source foreign currency for
her. The complainant believed that the accused person and her accomplices were
genuine and gave them $100 000 in exchange for United States dollars,” he said.
After receiving the money, Gwemende and Onwuchukwu
allegedly roped in Ndlovu who proceeded to Colleen Bawn Police Station where
she falsely reported that $80 100 and US$8 230 had been stolen from her.
Investigations into the alleged theft revealed that Ndlovu
had made a false report.
Mrs Ndebele-Sibindi
reported the matter to the police, leading to Gwemende’s arrest. — Chronicle
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