Conman blows $2 600 loot on cigarettes

A Bulawayo man allegedly disguised himself by wearing a black jacket, black hat and glasses before defrauding a 60-year-old man of $2 697 at a ZB bank ATM.

Caleb Murawa (41) of Njube, a court heard, blew the entire amount on 240 bricks of cigarettes (Everest and Madison) at a supermarket, a few minutes after conning Mr Sindiso Mabhena.

Murawa was in the bank queue when he allegedly pretended to be a Good Samaritan.

Mr Sindiso Mabhena, the court heard was having challenges in checking his account balance at the bank situated along corner Jason Moyo and Eighth Avenue.

Murawa is alleged to have offered to help and switched Mr Mabhena's ATM card.

Yesterday Murawa pleaded not guilty to a charge of fraud before magistrate Ms Gladmore Mushove.

Ms Mushove remanded him out of custody to Thursday for trial after he said he had not been served with State papers.

Mr Mabhena said Murawa was wearing a black jacket, dark glasses and a hat on the day and the CCTV camera at the bank also showed that his clothing obscured his face.

Prosecuting, Mr Kudakwashe Jaravaza said Murawa defrauded Mr Mabhena on August 1, this year at about midday.

He said Murawa approached Mr Mabhena and offered to help him after he noticed that he was having problems in operating the ATM.

"Murawa told Mr Mabhena to insert his ATM card and enter his pin to check his balance," he said.

"He quickly inserted a similar card into the ATM and gave it to Mr Mabhena before walking away. Mr Mabhena punched the pin for the second time not knowing that the card had been switched and the machine declined," Mr Jaravaza said.

The court heard that Mr Mabhena approached the bank officials who checked with his account number and notified him that his ATM card had been used to buy goods at a city supermarket.

Mr Jaravaza said Murawa was identified at an identification parade at Bulawayo Central Police Station.