Emeralds deal goes wrong

A BID to make quick cash backfired for a Zvishavane man who was left counting his losses after being duped of his hard-earned money by two con artistes in a botched $11 000 emeralds deal.

Honest Mangisi (27) of number 1401 Makwasha in Zvishavane was swindled of $2 000 by Kupeta Chirombo (47) of number 614 Mandava in Zvishanane and his accomplice Godfrey Sarireni whose address was not given.

Mangisi had given the two fraudsters the $2 000 as deposit for emeralds and was handed three stones wrapped in a plastic paper as surety.

He was promised the remainder of the emeralds which were, however, never delivered.

Chirombo was arrested and appeared before Zvishavane magistrate Mr Tavengwa Sangster facing fraud charges as defined under Section 136 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.

His accomplice, Sarireni, is still at large and police have since launched a manhunt for him.

The State's case as presented by prosecutor Miss Monica Mungwena is that on 15 April this year at around 7pm, Chirombo phoned Mangisi, who did not know and had not met the former at that time, and offered to sell him emeralds worth $11 000.

Chirombo asked Mangisi to meet him at Machipisa Shopping Centre in Zvishavane, where the two were to discuss the deal, and Mangisi agreed.

The court heard that Mangisi went to the meeting point where he met Chirombo in the company of Sarireni.

However, Chirombo decided to change the venue of the meeting from Machipisa Shopping Centre to Shabanie Mine Hospital for undisclosed reasons.

Miss Mungwena told the court that upon arrival at Shabanie Mine Hospital, the accused brought out three stones wrapped in a plastic paper which he said were emeralds and handed them to the complainant, and said the remainder of the emeralds were at his place.

Mangisi, the court heard, gave $2 000 to Sarireni, who was to remain at Shabanie Mine Hospital while the accused and the complainant were to go to Mangisi's house to collect the rest of the emeralds and complete the transaction.

While on their way to Chirombo's place to collect the emeralds, it is alleged that Chirombo suddenly burst into speed and fled the unsuspecting Mangisi whose efforts to give chase proved fruitless.

Realising that he had been duped, the complainant went back to Shabanie Mine Hospital where they had left Sarireni with the cash but could not locate Sarireni.

Mangisi tried to call Chirombo and Sarireni on their cellphones but could not reach them as they had allegedly switched off their phones.

The complainant filed a police report resulting in Chirombo being arrested at his house in Mandava high-density suburb a few days later.

His accomplice, Sarireni, is still on the run.

It also emerged that the three stones that Mangisi was given were not emeralds, but mere stones without any value.

In his defence Chirombo denied ever receiving cash from Mangisi, arguing that the complainant had handed the cash to Sarireni with whom he was dealing in the emeralds.

"I did not get any money from him (Mangisi) but he gave the money to Sarireni. I was not involved in their deal in any way. I was just a bystander," said Chirombo.

He was remanded in custody to Wednesday this week for continuation of the trial.