News / National
Man becomes company CEO using fake qualifications
12 Feb 2012 at 21:43hrs | Views
A Bulawayo man, Torarama Gutu (49) allegedly duped Modzone Enterprise Pvt Ltd officials that he possessed an Executive Masters in Business Administration degree and got employed as a managing director for nearly two years.
Gutu of Hadson Avenue in Bulawayo was exposed after the Board of Directors noted his lack of knowledge of the job and inquired about his qualifications.
Gutu appeared before Chitungwiza magistrate Ms Olivia Mariga facing charges of US$52 246 fraud, the money he received in salary and allowances. He is expected back in court on February 16.
Gutu pocketed the allowances and salaries from April 2010 to August last year when he worked as the managing director.
The court heard that Gutu attempted the degree programme thrice, but did not complete it.
Prosecutor Mr Henry Muringani said in August 2009 Modzone Enterprise Pvt Ltd inserted an advert on the Internet through the Industrial Development Corporation of Zimbabwe.
The advert required the services of a managing director for Travan Blankets and Irazim Textiles that are subsidiaries to Modzone Enterprises.
Mr Muringwa said Gutu was part of three other respondents to the advert, who submitted their CVs and were shortlisted for an interview.
His was stated that he was a holder of the Masters Degree obtained at Africa University.
The interview panel recruited him on the belief that he was a holder of such a degree and appointed him CEO. On several occasions, Gutu was asked to submit his original certificates, but he would be evasive.
He said it was a strenuous process to locate the certificates since he relocated from Bulawayo to Harare.
The panel's chairman tasked his personal secretary to find out from Africa University if Gutu had indeed studied the degree programme.
This was after Gutu failed to execute some of the tasks expected of him. After the company discovered the misrepresentation, a police report was made leading to his arrest.
Gutu of Hadson Avenue in Bulawayo was exposed after the Board of Directors noted his lack of knowledge of the job and inquired about his qualifications.
Gutu appeared before Chitungwiza magistrate Ms Olivia Mariga facing charges of US$52 246 fraud, the money he received in salary and allowances. He is expected back in court on February 16.
Gutu pocketed the allowances and salaries from April 2010 to August last year when he worked as the managing director.
The court heard that Gutu attempted the degree programme thrice, but did not complete it.
Prosecutor Mr Henry Muringani said in August 2009 Modzone Enterprise Pvt Ltd inserted an advert on the Internet through the Industrial Development Corporation of Zimbabwe.
Mr Muringwa said Gutu was part of three other respondents to the advert, who submitted their CVs and were shortlisted for an interview.
His was stated that he was a holder of the Masters Degree obtained at Africa University.
The interview panel recruited him on the belief that he was a holder of such a degree and appointed him CEO. On several occasions, Gutu was asked to submit his original certificates, but he would be evasive.
He said it was a strenuous process to locate the certificates since he relocated from Bulawayo to Harare.
The panel's chairman tasked his personal secretary to find out from Africa University if Gutu had indeed studied the degree programme.
This was after Gutu failed to execute some of the tasks expected of him. After the company discovered the misrepresentation, a police report was made leading to his arrest.
Source - TH
