Fugitive car dealer arrested after 5 years on the run

A Bulawayo car dealer who allegedly went on the run for five years after allowing the Sheriff of the High Court to attach a client's bus worth US$15,000 to settle his own company's debt has appeared in court.

Richard Munyika (43), the owner of Majestic Car Sales and a resident of Famona suburb, appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Patience Madondo facing a charge of theft of trust property.

He was remanded out of custody to November 10 on US$300 bail.

As part of his bail conditions, Munyika was ordered to surrender his passport, reside at his given address, report to Bulawayo Central Police Station every Monday and Friday, and not interfere with State witnesses.

Munyika was represented by Hebert Shenje of Shenje and Company, while Josephine Gurazhira appeared for the State.

Prosecutors said that between April and May 2019, the complainant, Edgar Farai Mhere (63), who operates a vehicle trading business, entrusted Munyika with his bus to sell on commission for US$15,000.

However, Munyika — reportedly battling debts at the time — allegedly allowed the Sheriff to attach the bus to recover money owed by his company in a separate civil case involving Candice Peters.

"The accused allowed the bus to be attached by the Sheriff and falsely claimed that it belonged to him," prosecutor Gurazhira told the court.

When Mhere later visited the car sale to check on progress, Munyika allegedly lied that a buyer had taken the bus for a test drive. The following day, Munyika had vanished.

An employee later informed Mhere that the Sheriff had seized the bus to settle Majestic Car Sales' debt. Mhere then confirmed the loss of his vehicle and lodged a police report.

Munyika reportedly disappeared in 2019 and remained at large until he was arrested last Thursday by detectives from the Commercial Crimes Division (CCD) in Bulawayo.