News / National
Former Umguza councillor on the run
30 Jun 2019 at 07:36hrs | Views
A warrant of arrest has been issued against a former Umguza Rural District councillor - Moses Siphuma (67), who was arrested last week on allegations of illegally selling stands.
The warrant was issued by Bulawayo magistrate Mr Franklyn Mkhwananzi, after Siphuma failed to avail himself in court last week.
Siphuma had initially been remanded out of custody to 24 June, when he initially appeared in court. Siphuma initially appeared before magistrate Miss Nomasiko Ndlovu, who remanded him out of custody on his own cognisance for trial.
According to the State as presented by Mr Nathan Marime, the former councillor is charged with fraud, after he illegally sold a piece of land to an unnamed complainant, along Matopos Road near Tshabalala Wildlife Sanctuary.
"On a date unknown to the court, Siphuma misrepresented himself to the complainant that he was a councillor and was authorised to allocate stands/plots on a certain piece of land.
"The complainant paid $100 to Siphuma, who then allocated him a piece of land measuring three by nine kilometres," said Mr Marime.
The court heard that Siphuma produced a fake offer letter to ascertain his scam.
"He produced fake offer letters which he showed the complainant to dupe him further," said Mr Marime.
He said after investigations by police, Siphuma was found in possession of the fake offer letters and a traced EcoCash transaction from the complainant adding up to $2 000.
The State had initially opposed him being granted bail as it had noted that he was likely to interfere with State witnesses. It was also noted that he was highly likely to abscond.
Siphuma was Umguza Rural District Council's Ward 17 councillor.
The warrant was issued by Bulawayo magistrate Mr Franklyn Mkhwananzi, after Siphuma failed to avail himself in court last week.
Siphuma had initially been remanded out of custody to 24 June, when he initially appeared in court. Siphuma initially appeared before magistrate Miss Nomasiko Ndlovu, who remanded him out of custody on his own cognisance for trial.
According to the State as presented by Mr Nathan Marime, the former councillor is charged with fraud, after he illegally sold a piece of land to an unnamed complainant, along Matopos Road near Tshabalala Wildlife Sanctuary.
"On a date unknown to the court, Siphuma misrepresented himself to the complainant that he was a councillor and was authorised to allocate stands/plots on a certain piece of land.
"The complainant paid $100 to Siphuma, who then allocated him a piece of land measuring three by nine kilometres," said Mr Marime.
The court heard that Siphuma produced a fake offer letter to ascertain his scam.
"He produced fake offer letters which he showed the complainant to dupe him further," said Mr Marime.
He said after investigations by police, Siphuma was found in possession of the fake offer letters and a traced EcoCash transaction from the complainant adding up to $2 000.
The State had initially opposed him being granted bail as it had noted that he was likely to interfere with State witnesses. It was also noted that he was highly likely to abscond.
Siphuma was Umguza Rural District Council's Ward 17 councillor.
Source - sundaynews.co.zw
