POLICE have said a Bulawayo businessman Elliot Mharadze (42) who had been on the run for the past five years after allegedly defrauding individuals of over US$50 000 in a botched housing stands deal, is facing more counts as more victims have come forward.
Initially, Mharadze, a director of Exceed Construction, was
arrested on 19 counts of fraud, which have since increased to 24
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Abednico
Ncube confirmed that they are receiving more reports of fraud against Mharadze.
He also urged those who had been defrauded to approach the
police.
“I can confirm that since the accused was arrested and
appeared in court there have been more charges brought up against him.
Initially, he had 19 counts of fraud but since his court appearance we have
received more complaints against him,” said Insp Ncube.
“As of Friday, the number of complainants was 24. We are
saying to those who are victims but have not yet reported, they must report to
us.”
Mharadze was denied bail and remanded in custody to today.
Prosecuting, Ms Siphiwe Mhlanga said on September 4, 2018,
one of the complainants, Mr Butholezwe Dube went to Mharadze’s company offices
located at the intersection of Herbert Chitepo Street and Leopold Takawira
Avenue in the city centre intending to buy a residential property.
Mharadze then offered to build the complainant a two-roomed
house in Pumula South for US$17 000. The accused and the complainant then
struck a deal and Mr Dube then paid a deposit of US$13 000.
The court heard that Mr Dube later visited Bulawayo City
Council (BCC) offices intending to inquire about the stand and he discovered
that it had been sold and registered under someone’s name.
On December 24, 2018, Mharadze duped Ms Joyce Moyo using
the same modus operandi and sold a non-existent stand for R215 000.
On 22 March 22, 2018, Mharadze defrauded Ms Claudious
Manamela of US$5 000 for a house purported to be in Nkulumane suburb.
The court heard that on July 18, 2018, Mr Bongani Nyathi
was defrauded of US$19 000 for a house that was purported to be in Pelandaba.
On March 22, 2019, Ms Sizi Ndlovu was duped of R270 000 by
Mharadze following a botched house deal. Mharadze had claimed that he was
selling in Pelandaba suburb.
The court heard that on August 24, 2019, Mharadze defrauded
Ms Tackler Gumbo of R190 000 after claiming that he was selling a house in
Pelandaba.
“On November 21, 2019, Mharadze duped Mr Tafara Dube R205
000 after purportedly selling a house in Pelandaba suburb. Mharadze went on to
dupe another complainant, Ms Tafara Dube of $3 800 after claiming there was a
house for sale in Cowdray Park suburb,” said Ms Mhlanga.
On December 23 during the same year, Mharadze defrauded Ms
Tsitsi Machiri of R103 000 and US$3 400 for a house that he claimed was selling
in Pelandaba.
During the same month, Mharadze allegedly conned one
Muziukhona US$3 725, on the pretext that he was selling a house in Pumula
South.
The total amount that Mharadze pocketed through prejudicing
the complainants is US$47 925 and R 953 000.
Mharadze was represented by Mr Goodluck Katanaire of
Mutuso, Taruvinga and Mhiribidi Attorneys. Chronicle
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