They were granted US$100 bail each and remanded to April 4,
for a possible trial date.
It is the State’s case that sometime in January 2024,
complainant Andsen Patson came across an advert on Facebook where the duo had
advertised Certificates of Sponsorship (COS) for the United Kingdom.
Patson responded to the advert because he wanted a COS for
his wife who wanted to travel abroad.
The court heard that the duo charged 5 500 British Pounds
and a deposit of 4000 British Pounds was made through Patson’s uncle who is
based in the United Kingdom.
The parties agreed to pay the balance upon receipt of the COS. After the transfer, Patson received an offer letter via WhatsApp account number +447400352877 and a COS.
However, during the application for a visa, Patson
discovered that the COS was fake and efforts to contact the accused persons
were fruitless.
The court heard that the complainant never made a police
report after he noticed that he was duped.
He tried continuously to contact the unknown accused person
on his Facebook account but there was no response.
On February 20, Chimutsi contacted Patson using the same
Facebook account and indicated that he was a police detective stationed at CID
Frauds.
Chimutsi allegedly misrepresented that he was investigating
the matter.
Patson became suspicious since he never made a police
report.
The complainant sought advice from Harare Central Police
officers.
Chimutsi contacted the complainant in the presence of
police officers and demanded US$100 for fuel to go and recover the money.
Chimutsi further demanded a compensation of 500 British
Pounds upon recovery of the money.
A bait was made that parties meet at the Monomutapa
Building with the US$100, the court heard.
Patson engaged ZRP Harare Central police officers leading
to the arrest of Chimutsi who was in the company of Marabada who also
masqueraded as a police detective. Herald
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