Fake BeForward agent allegedly defrauds clients of US$15k

A Harare woman accused of falsely posing as an authorised vehicle import agent and defrauding several clients of more than US$15,000 has appeared in court facing five counts of fraud.

Regina Mandiya (28), who allegedly operated under the name Ginnah Motors, appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Ruth Moyo on Monday and was remanded in custody pending the determination of her bail application.

According to the State, Mandiya conducted business from offices at Francis House along Jason Moyo Avenue in Harare's central business district, where she allegedly misrepresented herself as an authorised agent capable of importing vehicles from Japan through BeForward.

Prosecutors allege that in January this year, one of the complainants, Mr Roy Makokoro, approached Mandiya seeking assistance to import a Mazda Familia AD Van.

The court heard that Mandiya allegedly claimed she could source and import the vehicle through Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, prompting Mr Makokoro to pay US$2,748 for the vehicle and associated importation costs.

However, when he later followed up on the transaction, Mandiya allegedly informed him that the vehicle had been sold to another buyer and that no replacement vehicle was available.

Despite repeated efforts to recover his money, Mr Makokoro allegedly received no satisfactory explanation. The court heard that Mandiya later became unreachable and that when he visited the company's offices, they were closed.

The matter was subsequently reported to the police, leading to Mandiya's arrest. The State alleges that none of the money has been recovered.

In a second count, prosecutors allege that on July 28 last year, Mr Maclloyd Tapera approached Ginnah Motors intending to purchase a Toyota Passo after Mandiya allegedly presented herself as a BeForward agent.

Mr Tapera allegedly paid US$5,124, which covered the vehicle purchase price, transportation and clearing charges.

The court heard that after waiting several months without receiving the vehicle, he visited the company's offices and found them locked and unattended.

Although Mandiya allegedly continued to assure him that the vehicle would be delivered, no vehicle was supplied.

Prosecutors further allege that she later referred Mr Tapera to another agent in Zambia, who reportedly advised him that the vehicle could no longer be imported into Zimbabwe because the allowable importation period had expired.

After unsuccessful attempts to recover his money, Mr Tapera reported the matter to the police. The State alleges that none of the funds have been recovered.

Three other complainants - Mr John Makese, Ms Luluwa Annah Dhiki and Mr Wilfred Mashaya - are also alleged to have lost money after paying for vehicles that were never delivered.

The State contends that the complainants were induced to part with their money on the understanding that vehicles would be imported on their behalf, but the promised vehicles were never supplied.

Mandiya has not yet entered a plea, and the allegations against her remain untested in court.

Investigations into the matter are continuing.