Gweru Airbase senior officer in court over $8 300 fraud
By Dumisani Ndlovu
A Josiah Tungamirai (Thornhill) Airbase military officer and church elder at ZAOGA Forward in Faith Ministries International Church, Flywell Chiminya, claiming to be a Be Forward agent has been arraigned before the Gweru Magistrate Court facing two counts of fraud worth over$8 365.
The accused Master Sergeant Caterer allegedly duped two prospective car owners of more than US$8300 between 27 November 2023 and February this 2024.
The prospective motor vehicles owners allegedly approached the man of the cloth where they made payments for the importation of purported vehicles from Japan.
Delivery of the purported vehicles was said to be done within three months after payment. The monies paid were, however, supposed to be channelled towards the purchase of the vehicles, while the remainder were said to be used for transportation and relevant logistics.
Hell broke loose when the stipulated time surpassed with the complainants not receiving the imported vehicles.
The prosecution alleges that Chiminya, on separate occasions defrauded Beatrice Matafa and Warren Vangai, of a total of $8,365 after promising to facilitate the buying of their vehicles through a Be Forward agent. The accused is said to have presented fake documents to the victim. The court will hear the case on June 20, 2024.
The accused uniformed force member and man of the cloth Master Sergeant, Caterer Chiminya denied the charges when he appeared before Magistrate Dube. He was remanded in custody to 20 June 2024 when his US $8365 000 fraud case will be tried at the court of law.
According to state outline Master Sergeant Chiminya was charged of Fraud as defined in the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, chapter 9:23 section 136.
“On the period between November 2024 and February 2024 you defrauded Beatrice Matafa and Warren Vangai of their income.
On the first count you, Flywell Chiminya stand accused of defrauding Beatrice Matafa of US$4000 when you promised to buy the complainant a motor vehicle through BE FOWARDED agent. You did not deliver the vehicle on the promised time. Knowing pretty well there was high risk or possibility the complainant risk losing his income. You also alleged showed them fake BE Forwarded vehicle documents,” read the state outline.
The state outline also indicated that on the second count the accused was accused of defrauding Warren Vangai duping the complainant of US$4 365. Knowing pretty well there was high risk or possibility the complainant will losing his income.
“You also presented to the two complainants fake car papers. You are supposed to come back in court on the 20th of June 2024, in court 2 with the provision for trial,” read court papers.
Public Prosecutor, Valerie Sauramba represented the state.
A recent spate of armed robberies and fraud involving soldiers and policemen has sent shockwaves across the landlocked Southern African country of Zimbabwe.
Although President Emmerson Mnangagwa has warned security personnel for taking part in criminal activities and vowed to use ruthless means to deal with them, the rate of such cases is skyrocketing.
