News / Local
Bogus lawyer swindle couple of $10,000
21 Oct 2015 at 07:03hrs | Views
A BULAWAYO businessman allegedly connived with a friend and swindled a couple from Cowdray Park suburb of $10,000 after masquerading as a lawyer. The self-styled legal practitioner, Nesbert Chikaka, who is director of Nisma Engineering, yesterday appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Tinashe Washaya facing a charge of contravening a section of the Legal Practitioners Act. He pleaded not guilty.
Magistrate Tashaya remanded him to October 22 on $400 bail. Prosecuting, Nathaniel Mutsikwa said Kemesi Dube, who had just received a pension lumpsum, got information that house number 60 Nkulumane was being sold by Abraham Ndlovu last year in October.
"Dube met Ndlovu, viewed the house and they agreed on a $10,000 cash price. Dube wanted to engage his lawyer for payment arrangements but Ndlovu convinced him and his wife Sonelia Ncube that his 'lawyer' Chikaka was able to represent both of them," said Mutsikwa. "On the same day, Ndlovu took Dube and his wife to Chikaka's office and introduced him as his lawyer. Chikaka interviewed both parties."
Chikaka allegedly charged Dube $150 for his services and did not issue a receipt when he paid. "On October 25, Chikaka received $3, 000 from Dube as deposit for purchasing the house and no receipt was issued. A hand written interim Agreement of Sale was drafted showing that the seller was Benson Siziba represented by Abraham Ndlovu and the buyer was Kemesi Dube and Sonelia Ncube," he said.
Mutsikwa added: "On October 31, Dube made a final payment in Chikaka's office towards the purchase of the house. Chikaka then compiled a printed agreement of sale which was signed by Ndlovu, himself and Dube's wife". The court heard that the printed agreement of sale indicated that the seller was Benson Siziba whose national identification number was fake.
"On December 28, Dube and his wife went to Ndlovu's office and Ndlovu told them the occupants of the house were still looking for alternative accommodation. He told Dube to wait for him and Chikaka to sort out something for them but nothing materialised." Mutsikwa said Dube finally visited the Nkulumane Housing Office and was told the house belonged to a Gladys Nyathi, who is late.
"Dube made a police report which led to Chikaka's arrest. Ndlovu is still on the run," said Mutsikwa.
Magistrate Tashaya remanded him to October 22 on $400 bail. Prosecuting, Nathaniel Mutsikwa said Kemesi Dube, who had just received a pension lumpsum, got information that house number 60 Nkulumane was being sold by Abraham Ndlovu last year in October.
"Dube met Ndlovu, viewed the house and they agreed on a $10,000 cash price. Dube wanted to engage his lawyer for payment arrangements but Ndlovu convinced him and his wife Sonelia Ncube that his 'lawyer' Chikaka was able to represent both of them," said Mutsikwa. "On the same day, Ndlovu took Dube and his wife to Chikaka's office and introduced him as his lawyer. Chikaka interviewed both parties."
Chikaka allegedly charged Dube $150 for his services and did not issue a receipt when he paid. "On October 25, Chikaka received $3, 000 from Dube as deposit for purchasing the house and no receipt was issued. A hand written interim Agreement of Sale was drafted showing that the seller was Benson Siziba represented by Abraham Ndlovu and the buyer was Kemesi Dube and Sonelia Ncube," he said.
Mutsikwa added: "On October 31, Dube made a final payment in Chikaka's office towards the purchase of the house. Chikaka then compiled a printed agreement of sale which was signed by Ndlovu, himself and Dube's wife". The court heard that the printed agreement of sale indicated that the seller was Benson Siziba whose national identification number was fake.
"On December 28, Dube and his wife went to Ndlovu's office and Ndlovu told them the occupants of the house were still looking for alternative accommodation. He told Dube to wait for him and Chikaka to sort out something for them but nothing materialised." Mutsikwa said Dube finally visited the Nkulumane Housing Office and was told the house belonged to a Gladys Nyathi, who is late.
"Dube made a police report which led to Chikaka's arrest. Ndlovu is still on the run," said Mutsikwa.
Source - chronicle
