H-Metro
Paidamoyo Bore
A HARARE man lost more than $3 million to a woman who had claimed to be his wife’s grandmother.
Edmore Muloki and Daisy Hazvinavarwi are being accused of defrauding Herbert Chakurere.
Muloki appeared before Harare Magistrate Dennis Mangosi to answer fraud charges of more than $3 million.
Hazvinavarwi is on the run.
He will be back in court today for his bail ruling.
Prosecutor Grace Mugocheke said on November 7 last year, Hazvinavarwi contacted Tawanda Chakacha falsely claiming to be his wife’s grandmother.
Chakacha and Chakurere are workmates. Hazvinavarwi told Chakacha that she was looking for Zimbabwe dollars to buy groceries in exchange for US dollars. Chakacha believed that Hazvinavarwi was actually his wife’s grandmother because she had called him by his child’s name.
Chakacha then phoned Chakurere since he did not have the money.
Chakurere asked his brother Paul to transfer $3.2 million into the bank account Hazvinavarwi provided. The bank account belonged to Muloki.
Chakacha then phoned his wife’s actual grandmother, inquiring if she had received the money, and she told him that she had not asked for any money.
He then realised that he had been duped and tried to contact Hazvinavarwi, who became evasive.
He reported the matter to the police.
Investigations revealed that Hazvinavarwi had connived with Muloki.
The court heard that after receiving the money, Muloki paid his Nyaradzo Life policy monthly subscription of $14 208 and then went on to buy bulk airtime from NetOne worth $3 179 590.
The State said Muloki’s bank had been investigating his account after several suspicious transactions involving huge sums.
