Four suspects arrested, likely to be part of 'most wanted criminals'

Bulawayo police claim to have arrested four men on suspicion of being part of a gang of the most wanted criminals who have been moving around the country defrauding businesses using fake Real Time Gross Settlement Forms.

The four men, Glezner Muchabaiwa (39), of 28 Casino Road in Waterfalls, Harare, Painona Bumhire (35) of 27 Takura Street Zengeza 5 in Chitungwiza, Humphrey Nyekete (36), of Ngame Village, Dema in Seke and Kenneth Marawa (36) of 6270 Dzivarasekwa Extension in Harare were allegedly in the habit of manufacturing counterfeit RTGS forms after which they would then approach different businesses and buy goods using the fake documents.

They were arrested last week after defrauding two Bulawayo companies last month using the same modus operandi while purporting to be agents from some organisations.

At one point they said they were representing the World Health Organisation (WHO).

They would use the name of an organisation to buy different kinds of goods using fake documents as a form of payment.

Muchabaiwa, Bumhire, Nyekete and Marawa defrauded two companies, Servco Bulawayo and National Fencing of 10 water cooler tanks and 80x50 kilogrammes rolls of barbed wire with a combined value of $13 666.

Muchabaiwa, Bumhire, Nyekete and Marawa appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mrs Sibongile Msipa facing two counts of fraud.

They were not asked to plead and were remanded in custody to Wednesday.

The State denied them bail because of their track record as they have a pending case in Marondera and Mutare and because some of the property has not been recovered.

It is the State's case that between 21 November and 30 November 2011, the four hatched a plan to defraud Servco.

They allegedly phoned a sales representative at Servco and told her they were from WHO and were based in Gweru and wanted to buy 10 water cooler tanks.

The sales representative reportedly sent them an order form via e-mail for $3 266, being the value of the tanks.

After getting the order form, the court heard that they then requested banking details for Servco and were given the Standard Chartered Bank account.

Muchabaiwa, Bumhire, Nyekete and Marawa then generated fake RTGS forms purporting to be from ZB Bank with a face value of $3 266.

The court heard that they tendered the documents to the company as payment for the tanks, which were then given to them.

On 30 November, the four allegedly  masqueraded as members of the Seventh  Day Adventist Church in Gweru and went to National Fencing in Bulawayo where they made an order for 80 rolls of barbed wire weighing 50kgs each.

They generated RTGS, which they purported were from Barclays Bank with a value of  $10 400.
The matter came to light when the complainants went to the banks to withdraw the money.

They discovered the documents were fake and the banks had received no money.
One of the four men was arrested in Harare leading to the recovery of 20 rolls of wire and five tanks.

Muchabaiwa was found in possession of 14 rolls and one tank while six rolls and four tanks were found in Bumhire's possession.

Muchabaiwa, Bumhire, Nyekete and  Marawa made indications to police in Bulawayo and Harare.
Mr Dumisani Moyo appeared for the State.