Man dupes ex-landlord of $24,000

A man who reportedly duped his former landlord of $24 000 in a botched school fees bank transfer deal appeared in court yesterday.

Andrew Machiha, 48, of Avondale, Harare was being charged with fraud when he appeared before magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti.

He was granted $300 bail, ordered to continue residing at his present address and not interfere with witnesses as part of the conditions.

He will be back in court in January next year.

Prosecutor Audrey Chogumaira alleged that sometime in May 2016 the complainant told Machiha that she was facing difficulties transferring her children's school fees in Germany due to certain Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe regulations.

Machiha reportedly hatched a plan to swindle the complainant and convinced her that he could facilitate the transfer without difficulty.

The court heard that on May 4, this year the complainant then transferred $24 000 meant for her children's college fees into Machiha's CBZ bank account.

It was alleged that the arrangement was that Machiha would transfer the $24 000 into the complainant's husband bank account in Germany.

The money reflected in Machiha's account two days later and he confirmed receipt but advised the complainant that she had given him wrong details of the destination account in Germany.

The court heard that complainant then recompiled the banking details and gave Machiha.

It was further alleged that on May 7 this year, Machiha advised the complainant that he had completed the transfer, adding that the money would reflect in the Germany account after seven days. However, the complainant was surprised when her husband later called asking about their children's school fees.

He indicated that no transfer had been processed as he had not received any money in his bank account, leading the wife to enquire from Machiha.

The complainant made several follow-ups with Machiya but he became evasive, prompting her to report the matter to the police.

A total of $24 000 was lost and nothing was recovered.