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Zimbabwe man gets community service for US$6,800 mercury scam
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A Gweru man has been sentenced to community service after admitting to defrauding a Bindura businessman of US$6,800 in a fake mercury deal orchestrated through social media.
Manford Mapholisa (42), of Claymont suburb in Gweru, pleaded guilty to one count of fraud when he appeared before Gweru magistrate Arnold Maburo.
The court sentenced him to 280 hours of community service and ordered him to repay US$6,800 to the complainant, Byron Katsande, by October 30.
Katsande, an accountant employed at a mine in Chegutu who resides in Bindura, lost the money after responding to a Facebook advertisement offering mercury for sale.
Prosecutor Brandon Ndlovu told the court that on November 29 last year, Katsande came across a Facebook page called Silver Mercury and expressed interest in purchasing the chemical.
On December 2, Mapholisa contacted him using two mobile numbers, falsely claiming to be a mercury supplier operating from Gweru.
The court heard that Mapholisa instructed Katsande to travel to Gweru on December 5 to complete the transaction.
Upon arriving in the city centre, Katsande was met by one of Mapholisa's alleged accomplices, identified only as Jamala, who remains at large.
Jamala escorted the complainant to meet Mapholisa, who produced a bottle purportedly containing one kilogramme of mercury as proof that he had the commodity in stock.
When Katsande indicated that he wanted to purchase 20 kilogrammes, Mapholisa demanded US$6,800.
Believing the transaction was genuine, Katsande handed over the cash.
After receiving the money, Mapholisa told the complainant to wait while he collected the mercury, leaving him with Jamala.
However, Mapholisa failed to return and became unreachable by phone. Jamala also disappeared, leaving Katsande without either the mercury or his money.
The matter was reported to police, who launched investigations.
Detectives later conducted an undercover operation by posing as prospective buyers. Using the same alleged scheme, Mapholisa directed the officers to Mkoba 1 in Gweru and once again sent Jamala to meet them.
Police arrested Jamala during the operation, leading to Mapholisa's subsequent arrest and prosecution.
The court ordered Mapholisa to compensate the complainant in full while serving his community service sentence. Authorities said investigations into the alleged accomplice are continuing.
Manford Mapholisa (42), of Claymont suburb in Gweru, pleaded guilty to one count of fraud when he appeared before Gweru magistrate Arnold Maburo.
The court sentenced him to 280 hours of community service and ordered him to repay US$6,800 to the complainant, Byron Katsande, by October 30.
Katsande, an accountant employed at a mine in Chegutu who resides in Bindura, lost the money after responding to a Facebook advertisement offering mercury for sale.
Prosecutor Brandon Ndlovu told the court that on November 29 last year, Katsande came across a Facebook page called Silver Mercury and expressed interest in purchasing the chemical.
On December 2, Mapholisa contacted him using two mobile numbers, falsely claiming to be a mercury supplier operating from Gweru.
The court heard that Mapholisa instructed Katsande to travel to Gweru on December 5 to complete the transaction.
Upon arriving in the city centre, Katsande was met by one of Mapholisa's alleged accomplices, identified only as Jamala, who remains at large.
Jamala escorted the complainant to meet Mapholisa, who produced a bottle purportedly containing one kilogramme of mercury as proof that he had the commodity in stock.
When Katsande indicated that he wanted to purchase 20 kilogrammes, Mapholisa demanded US$6,800.
Believing the transaction was genuine, Katsande handed over the cash.
After receiving the money, Mapholisa told the complainant to wait while he collected the mercury, leaving him with Jamala.
However, Mapholisa failed to return and became unreachable by phone. Jamala also disappeared, leaving Katsande without either the mercury or his money.
The matter was reported to police, who launched investigations.
Detectives later conducted an undercover operation by posing as prospective buyers. Using the same alleged scheme, Mapholisa directed the officers to Mkoba 1 in Gweru and once again sent Jamala to meet them.
Police arrested Jamala during the operation, leading to Mapholisa's subsequent arrest and prosecution.
The court ordered Mapholisa to compensate the complainant in full while serving his community service sentence. Authorities said investigations into the alleged accomplice are continuing.
Source - The Chronicle
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