'Black dollar' scam, Congolese man arrested

A 39-YEAR-OLD man from the Democratic Republic of Congo was arrested for stealing $30 000 from a Bulawayo businessman whom he left with a "brick" of black dollar-sized paper.

Basil Akono Engambe was arrested at a Mutare lodge where he had booked for some days, after the police found a plastic paper which he used to seal the black money-sized paper.

Further searches conducted in his previous booking place in Bulawayo, recovered a paper bag full of the "black money".

Engambe appeared before a Bulawayo magistrate, Mrs Gladmore Mushove and was charged with fraud as defined by Section 136 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.

Engambe pleaded guilty but told the court that it was $25 000 not $ 30 000 that he conned the Bulawayo businessman out of. However, he was remanded in custody to 11 December.

Prosecuting, Mr Denmore Kasenza told the court how during the month of June, the accused together with his friend, Bekithemba Moyo, who is well-known to the complainant, Collen Zulu, a director of Mega Motorways and Shops in Bulawayo, hatched and executed their plan.

"Moyo introduced the accused to the complainant as his personal friend. On 21 August 2014 the accused Engambe and his friend, acting in common purpose, indicated to the complainant that they were seriously in need of $30 000 cash to quickly purchase Japanese vehicles and start their own business," said Kasenza.

He said Engambe further convinced the complainant that he had a South African account with equivalent South African currency amounting to 330 000 Rand, which they would transfer through the complainant's bank account.

"The complainant, who also has a South African account, agreed that it was prudent that the money be transferred into his account because he also wanted to buy products in South Africa.

"At about 12.30pm the complainant went to Agribank in Bulawayo, where he withdrew a total of $20 000 and had cash amounting to $10 000, and thereafter called the accused," said Mr Kasenza.

Mr Kasenza said that the accused went to the complainant's house together with Moyo at about 3pm and found the complainant at home in the company of his younger brother.

"The accused was holding a small black bag while his friend had nothing in his possession. The complainant produced $30 000 cash, which he counted in the presence of the two. The complainant then handed over the cash to the accused. He wrapped the money with a paper and sealed it with brown tape.

"It is during this particular time, when the complainant's younger brother went outside, the accused remained with the complainant while the sealed money was on the table," Mr Kasenza explained.

"The accused requested the complainant to go and fetch water for him. The complainant went to the kitchen to fetch water leaving the accused alone with the sealed money on the table.

"It was at this stage that the accused swapped the sealed money with a sealed similar parcel which he placed on the same position.

"On the return from the kitchen, the complainant unknowingly took the sealed parcel secured it at his bedroom after an agreement that they were going to finalise the deal the following day."

Mr Kasenza added that the accused thereafter disappeared with the money leaving the complainant with a bunch of black paper.

"The accused was arrested on 30 September at one of the lodges in Mutare where he had been booked since 19 September," said Mr Kasenza.