By Dumisani Ndlovu
A Gweru Saloon manager, recently appeared in court facing 27 counts of allegedly defrauding the company of US$10 585 by misleading the company and inflating monthly rentals between July 2023 and January 2024.
The accused Elizabeth Dera (44) appeared before Gweru magistrate Nixon Mangoti facing 27 counts of fraud. She was remanded on out of custody on bail conditions to 14 May 2024.
Prosecuting, Public Prosecutor, Bongani Mavuto told the court that on the 15th of March 2015, count one complainant Nolwazi Mpala, employed the accused as a manager at Elite Saloon, Alice Building in Gweru and was responsible for collecting rentals which was US$80 per month.
“During the period between January 2022 to January 20024, accused person told the complainant that she had 20 tenants at the saloon. Well knowing that she had 28 tenants. As from January 2022 to January 2024, the accused person collected US$10585 from eight tenants Hloniphani Dube, Shylet Musiyiwa, Tariro Chatambarara, Chipo Nhiwatiwa, Estina Mashindi, Muzvondiwa Sibongile and Matsvewu Lovemore Tavonga who were not known to the complainant and did not surrender the money to the complainant, “said Prosecutor, Mavuto.
The courts heard that the complainant became suspicious, conducted an investigation after indications of fraud within the company in January 2024 and discovered that the accused person lied to her that she had 20 tenants. Well knowing that she had 28.
Further investigation showed that the accused would inflate rentals for 26 tenants who are also complainants in this case.
“The accused told the complainants that the rent was raised from US$100 knowing very well that it was still US$80,”added Mavuto.
The false assertion led to all the 26 tenants paying $100 from July 2023 to January 2024.
This did not go down well with the complainant who made a police report, leading to her arrest of the accused person. The owner of the property told the court that the rent was not raised to US$100.
