Fraudster leaves court in stitches

SUSPECTED fraudster, Blessing Sibanda, left the court in stitches when he said the three female complainants in the criminal case he was facing four counts of fraud were his lovers - who voluntarily gave him money and other gifts as tokens of appreciation for his "blossoming and gratifying sexual" prowess.

However, under cross examination from Sibanda's lawyer, Mr Leonard Chigadza, of Chigadza and Associate Legal Practitioners, the complainants - Patricia Muronga (33), Cathrine Gombedza (40), Beauty Mudzingwa (40) and Melody Marima admitted being in love with him, but denied having sex with him.

Sibanda, of NE 269, in Vengere, is facing four counts of fraud in which he allegedly ensnared women - mostly unsuspecting female teachers - into falling in love with him before fleecing them of various sums of money.

He is denying the charges.

Mr Chigadza told the court that his client was being feted with gifts by the complainants who were desperate for his attention "as he was their young lover".

"The accused and the complainants were lovers who used to assist each other in many aspects, including financial issues. The accused would give the complainants cash just as they would give him cash.

"The money the complainants gave my client was tokens of appreciation for his youthful sexual prowess. These are elderly women lovers seeking his attention as he was their young lover.

"The affairs were blossoming sexually, financially and emotionally.

"It is in this spirit that Patricia gave my client $600. He was also in love with Gombedza, a teacher who is more mature than him, and used to shower him with monetary and material gifts. She gave him a refrigerator to use at his shop in Tandi, but he never promised to open a butchery shop in Marondera," said Mr Chigadza.

Mr Chigadza added that Sibanda never received or demanded money from Mudzingwa.

Mudzingwa argued that Sibanda told her that he owned a haulage truck company and shops in Sanzaguru, Rukweza and Tandi.

She said they met twice and the suspect took her $400 and 1000R on the second occasion.

"It was a mistaken identity. He never met her and does not even know her," said Mr Chigadza.

Mr Chigadza added that Sibanda was in love with Marima, but never received money from her.

"He was given a passport by the complainant after the parties had an agreement with regards to the complainant's intended journey to South Africa. Sibanda did not want her to travel to South Africa, and she gave him the passport to prove that she was no longer proceeding with the journey and that she was still in love with him," said Mr Chigadza.

Sibanda's trial continued on Monday and Tuesday this week.

Provincial magistrate, Mr Shingi Mutiro is handling the matter.

Mr James Wirima represents the State.

Mr Wirima told the court that Sibanda defrauded his victims after falling in love with them and made them believe he wanted to help them start income generating projects.

Sibanda was arrested by CID officers following a tip-off that he was set to receive $600 from Gombedza.

He allegedly used different names when approaching and defrauding his targets.

Sibanda allegedly conned Cecelia Muronga, a female teacher at Chitungwiza Primary School, $1 000.

He also allegedly conned Mudzingwa, $400 and R1000, before an attempt to fleece Gombedza backfired.

When police searched his Mercedes Benz (ACJ 7413), they discovered two more passports for Muchaneta Hilda Chigande, and Fenny Machingura, who are suspected to be among his victims.