News / Local
Zesa supervisor nabbed for duping clients
28 Aug 2013 at 22:15hrs | Views
A Zesa supervisor has been arrested for allegedly collecting nearly $120 000 from clients promising to cancel their outstanding bills and converted the money to his own use.
Sikhulumane Moyo (33), who was stationed at Entumbane Revenue Hall would allegedly cancel bills of those who would have paid him different amounts of money and transfer the bills to other electricity users' accounts.
He was arrested on Monday after allegedly illegally cancelling debts for 107 consumers from the suburb and fraudulently entering transactions of 314 other clients involving $119 948.91 to cover his tracks.
Moyo, of 4313 Nketa 7, is now facing a count of fraud and another one of theft after he also allegedly stole about $5 000 from his employer.
He was not formally charged with the two offences when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Takundwa Witness Mtetwa for initial remand. The court remanded him to 10 September on $300 bail.
As part of his bail conditions, Moyo was ordered to reside at an alternative address, House Number 30344 Entumbane and not to interfere with witnesses.
He was also ordered to surrender travel documents and to report twice a week on Mondays and Fridays at Entumbane Police Station.
The State led by Mr Malvern Nzombe would seek to prove that between 16 October last year and 23 June this year, Moyo collected money from the 107 customers but did not issue them with receipts.
The court was told that Moyo took advantage of the fact that as a supervisor, he had access to the Integrated Customers' Service (ICS) system and altered transactions of the 314 clients from other areas.
He allegedly misrepresented that the $119 948.91 had been officially paid by the 107 clients and their bills had been reduced, thereby prejudicing Zesa of the money.
On the count of theft, Moyo allegedly stole $4 965 which he was supposed to bank on behalf of the power utility.
Mr Nzombe told the court that on 17 July this year, he was supposed to bank $2 308 which had been paid by clients at Lobengula Revenue Hall, $1 638 at Nkulumane and $1 024 at Richmond but allegedly converted the money to his own use and destroyed unstamped deposit slips.
Evidence linking Moyo to the offence is that he was the only one with the secret code to the ICS system at Entumbane Revenue Hall.
The State is also basing its case on the fact that Moyo was the one who banked the money on 17 July and that he raised suspicion when he tendered a resignation letter through a workmate on 18 July before fleeing to South Africa.
This was after he realised that his fraudulent acts had been unearthed, the court was told.
Investigations by the police led to Moyo's arrest.
Sikhulumane Moyo (33), who was stationed at Entumbane Revenue Hall would allegedly cancel bills of those who would have paid him different amounts of money and transfer the bills to other electricity users' accounts.
He was arrested on Monday after allegedly illegally cancelling debts for 107 consumers from the suburb and fraudulently entering transactions of 314 other clients involving $119 948.91 to cover his tracks.
Moyo, of 4313 Nketa 7, is now facing a count of fraud and another one of theft after he also allegedly stole about $5 000 from his employer.
He was not formally charged with the two offences when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Takundwa Witness Mtetwa for initial remand. The court remanded him to 10 September on $300 bail.
As part of his bail conditions, Moyo was ordered to reside at an alternative address, House Number 30344 Entumbane and not to interfere with witnesses.
He was also ordered to surrender travel documents and to report twice a week on Mondays and Fridays at Entumbane Police Station.
The State led by Mr Malvern Nzombe would seek to prove that between 16 October last year and 23 June this year, Moyo collected money from the 107 customers but did not issue them with receipts.
The court was told that Moyo took advantage of the fact that as a supervisor, he had access to the Integrated Customers' Service (ICS) system and altered transactions of the 314 clients from other areas.
He allegedly misrepresented that the $119 948.91 had been officially paid by the 107 clients and their bills had been reduced, thereby prejudicing Zesa of the money.
On the count of theft, Moyo allegedly stole $4 965 which he was supposed to bank on behalf of the power utility.
Mr Nzombe told the court that on 17 July this year, he was supposed to bank $2 308 which had been paid by clients at Lobengula Revenue Hall, $1 638 at Nkulumane and $1 024 at Richmond but allegedly converted the money to his own use and destroyed unstamped deposit slips.
Evidence linking Moyo to the offence is that he was the only one with the secret code to the ICS system at Entumbane Revenue Hall.
The State is also basing its case on the fact that Moyo was the one who banked the money on 17 July and that he raised suspicion when he tendered a resignation letter through a workmate on 18 July before fleeing to South Africa.
This was after he realised that his fraudulent acts had been unearthed, the court was told.
Investigations by the police led to Moyo's arrest.
Source - Zimpapers
