News / National
Reuben Barwe swindled of $20 000
06 Mar 2012 at 04:44hrs | Views
ZBC news anchor Walter Mupfanochiya allegedly swindled his workmates of over US$30 000 after luring them into investing in his unspecified business.
Mupfanochiya (38), who is also head ZBC radio services, was yesterday brought to court on fraud charges.
He was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Anita Tshuma who remanded him out of custody on US$500 bail.
Mupfanochiya was ordered to surrender his passport and to report once every Friday at CID Serious Frauds.
He was also ordered not to interfere with State witnesses and to continue residing at his given address until the matter is finalised.
Prosecutor Mr David Magwegwe alleges that on December 18 2010, Mupfanochiya approached the first complainant, ZBC online manager Moses Charedzera and discussed business matters.
Mupfanochiya, it is alleged, told Charedzera that he wanted him to invest in his business.
After pleading with him, the State says Charedzera gave the news anchor US$3 000.
Mupfanochiya allegedly asked for more money and Charedzera made a bank transfer of US$10 000 into his workmate's CBZ account on December 26, 2010.
The State says Mupfanochiya promised to repay the money at the beginning of January last year, but he never did.
In January last year, Charedzera asked for his money but Mupfanochiya could not pay.
It is further alleged that from that time, Mupfanochiya showed no capacity to pay the money and the complainant realised he had been duped.
Out of US$13 000, only US$4 000 was recovered after Charedzera reported the matter to the police.
In November last year, Mupfanochiya approached ZBC chief correspondent Rueben Barwe and they discussed business.
During the discussion, he asked Barwe to invest in his company before asking for US$20 000.
Barwe transferred the money into Mupfanochiya's NMB bank account, it is alleged.
After consultations in January this year, Barwe realised that he had been duped and demanded his money back.
Mupfanochiya promised to pay back the money at the beginning of January, but failed to honour his pledge.
Barwe, it is alleged, made frantic efforts to recover his money but Mupfanochiya showed no capacity to repay the money.
He signed an acknowledgement of debt, saying that he was to repay Barwe before the end of February this year but he again failed.
Barwe then reported the matter, leading to Mupfanochiya's arrest.
Mupfanochiya (38), who is also head ZBC radio services, was yesterday brought to court on fraud charges.
He was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Anita Tshuma who remanded him out of custody on US$500 bail.
Mupfanochiya was ordered to surrender his passport and to report once every Friday at CID Serious Frauds.
He was also ordered not to interfere with State witnesses and to continue residing at his given address until the matter is finalised.
Prosecutor Mr David Magwegwe alleges that on December 18 2010, Mupfanochiya approached the first complainant, ZBC online manager Moses Charedzera and discussed business matters.
Mupfanochiya, it is alleged, told Charedzera that he wanted him to invest in his business.
After pleading with him, the State says Charedzera gave the news anchor US$3 000.
Mupfanochiya allegedly asked for more money and Charedzera made a bank transfer of US$10 000 into his workmate's CBZ account on December 26, 2010.
The State says Mupfanochiya promised to repay the money at the beginning of January last year, but he never did.
In January last year, Charedzera asked for his money but Mupfanochiya could not pay.
It is further alleged that from that time, Mupfanochiya showed no capacity to pay the money and the complainant realised he had been duped.
Out of US$13 000, only US$4 000 was recovered after Charedzera reported the matter to the police.
In November last year, Mupfanochiya approached ZBC chief correspondent Rueben Barwe and they discussed business.
During the discussion, he asked Barwe to invest in his company before asking for US$20 000.
Barwe transferred the money into Mupfanochiya's NMB bank account, it is alleged.
After consultations in January this year, Barwe realised that he had been duped and demanded his money back.
Mupfanochiya promised to pay back the money at the beginning of January, but failed to honour his pledge.
Barwe, it is alleged, made frantic efforts to recover his money but Mupfanochiya showed no capacity to repay the money.
He signed an acknowledgement of debt, saying that he was to repay Barwe before the end of February this year but he again failed.
Barwe then reported the matter, leading to Mupfanochiya's arrest.
Source - TH
