Sports / Soccer
Benjani fails to appear in court, accused swindler removed from remand
22 Oct 2011 at 07:49hrs | Views
LEEROY Waguta, the man accused of swindling England-based footballer Benjani Mwaruwari of R100 000 and US$5 000, was yesterday removed from remand.
He was removed from remand after the former Zimbabwe Warriors captain failed to come to court to give evidence.
The State can continue with the case by way of summons.
Waguta, who was Mwaruwari's property manager, appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Elijah Makomo challenging the State's intention to further remand him.
"Further remand is hereby refused. There are no witnesses as one of them is in Europe and his date of return is not known.
"There is no prejudice if the State were to be directed to proceed by way of summons," said Mr Makomo.
Charges against Waguta arose sometime in November last year, when he approached Mwaruwari's friend, Patrick Muteswa knowing that Muteswa owed Mwaruwari some money.
Waguta allegedly lied to Muteswa that he had been sent by Mwaruwari to collect US$5 000 from him.
Through the misrepresentation, it is alleged, the unsuspecting Muteswa gave Waguta the money, which he converted to his personal use.
During the same month, it is alleged, Waguta who was in Harare sent an e-mail to Mwaruwari's lawyer in South Africa pretending to be the football star.
He instructed the lawyer to transfer R100 000 from his account into Waguta's account.
It is further alleged that the lawyer without suspicion transferred the money into Waguta's account.
The matter came to light when the lawyer was auditing the funds and verified with Mwaruwari about the transfer.
The shocked Mwaruwari made a police report leading to Waguta's arrest.
He was removed from remand after the former Zimbabwe Warriors captain failed to come to court to give evidence.
The State can continue with the case by way of summons.
Waguta, who was Mwaruwari's property manager, appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Elijah Makomo challenging the State's intention to further remand him.
"Further remand is hereby refused. There are no witnesses as one of them is in Europe and his date of return is not known.
"There is no prejudice if the State were to be directed to proceed by way of summons," said Mr Makomo.
Charges against Waguta arose sometime in November last year, when he approached Mwaruwari's friend, Patrick Muteswa knowing that Muteswa owed Mwaruwari some money.
Through the misrepresentation, it is alleged, the unsuspecting Muteswa gave Waguta the money, which he converted to his personal use.
During the same month, it is alleged, Waguta who was in Harare sent an e-mail to Mwaruwari's lawyer in South Africa pretending to be the football star.
He instructed the lawyer to transfer R100 000 from his account into Waguta's account.
It is further alleged that the lawyer without suspicion transferred the money into Waguta's account.
The matter came to light when the lawyer was auditing the funds and verified with Mwaruwari about the transfer.
The shocked Mwaruwari made a police report leading to Waguta's arrest.
Source - HeraldOnline
