Bogus lawyer swindles client off $650

An unemployed man Eubank Damiso who masqueraded as a lawyer and duped an unsuspecting "client" of $650 on the pretext he could provide him legal services has been arraigned in court for fraud.

Damiso of Rimuka, Kadoma, was on Tuesday summoned to court where he appeared before magistrate Takudzwa Gwazemba. He was remanded to November 18 for trial after pleading not guilty.

The State's case is that on a date unknown to the prosecutor, but in May this year, the complainant Happison Sigauke (58) of Dalny Mine, Chakari, was seeking advice over a labour dispute and was referred to the accused by an unnamed person.

The court heard that upon their meeting, accused lied to complainant that he was a representative of a Harare-based law firm, Matsikidze & Mucheche Legal Practitioners, and pledged to assist him for a fee.

Dumiso was allegedly paid $650 which he converted to his own use.

The offence came to light when Sigauke visited the said law firm in Harare where he discovered that accused was not employed there, but was, infact, a con-artist.

Of the alleged swindled money, accused restituted $400. Jimmy Mlilo prosecuted.