Zvikomborero Parafini
A NINETY-YEAR-OLD suspect has been arrested in connection with the Rawson Properties fraud storm.
The company is accused of allegedly duping another firm of over US$500 000.
On Wednesday, Rawson Properties, represented by Agreement Rusena, who is the firm’s head of sales, and its two sales partners — Bernard Nyagurwe and Casper Boriondo — as well FCG Supermarkets director, Morris Bazil Madziyire, was charged with fraud.
Yesterday, Philemon Matariro Madziyire, who is aged 90, appeared before Harare magistrate Stanford Mambanje, as an accomplice, in the same case.
The complainant is African Medical Cannabis Biotech (Pvt) Ltd, which is being represented by Shiwen Ruan who is one of the company’s directors.
The court heard that on March 29 2018, Madziyire, being the owner of a piece of land, entered into an agreement of sale with Pedzisai Goto for 165 hectares for the price of US$200 000.
It is alleged that on April 12, 2019, a subdivision permit was issued by the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing for the subdivision of the property.
On November 4, last year, Madziyire, with the assistance of his son Morris Bazil Madziyire, allegedly gave a mandate to sell to Bernard Nyagurwe at Rawson Properties.
The mandate to sell did not describe the property to be sold and Bernard Nyagurwe did not sign the mandate.
It is alleged that Casper Boriondo, who is also an agent of Rawson Properties, after conniving with Nyagurwe, contacted African Medical Cannabis Biotech, indicating that he had a farm that was on sale.
After about two weeks, Boriondo took Ruan to view the farm.
He, however, did not reveal to Ruan that there was a previous buyer or that there was a dispute over a portion of the farm.
An agreement of sale was prepared at Rawson Properties for the purchase of the property and all the attachments on it.
On January 5 this year, African Medical Cannabis Biotech made a full payment of US$630 000 to Rawson Properties and was issued with receipt number 10139.
An agreement of sale was signed after the payment by both parties and Morris Bazil Madziyire witnessed on behalf of his father.
Upon trying to occupy the farm, the company was denied occupation by the first buyer, Pedzisai Goto, who claimed to have also bought the portion of the property from Madziyire.