Car dealer gets 3 years in jail for defrauding customers

Harare - A director of a car sale, Prestige Motors, Ashraf Joosalo has been sentenced to 3 years in prison for defrauding five people of US$62 000. Joosalo, who operates a car sale along Samora Machel Avenue in Harare, was initially slapped with 12 years.
However, Harare regional magistrate, Mr William Bhilla suspended seven years on condition of restitution.
He further suspended two more years on condition that Joosalo will not commit a similar offence in the next five years.
In his sentence, Regional magistrate Bhilla said despite Joosalo's proposal to pay restitution, he cannot escape a custodial sentence.
It has been established that Joosalo approached his friend whom he had known for the past 25 years and misrepresented to him that he had won a tender to supply four Toyota twin cabs.
Joosalo asked for US$150 000 to purchase the vehicle and promised to pay back the money within two days.
However, after failing to honour his promise, it was established that he was never given such a tender and had defrauded the complainant.
Joosalo used the same method of operation and defrauded other people of vehicles and money.
During trial, the state asked for a lengthy custodial sentence arguing that Joosalo's moral blameworthiness is very high.