Bulawayo man dupes Switzerland based house owner A suspected con artist from Bulawayos Entumbane suburb has been dragged to court for allegedly defrauding a Switzerland based owner of two houses of over $1,700 after misrepresenting as an estate agent. Farai Albert Mufandaedza (31) pleaded not guilty to fraud when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Charity Maphosa and was remanded to January 9. Representing the state, Danmore Kasenza told the court that sometime in October 2014 Mufandaedza sent photos of two houses owned by one Vetsch to a prospective buyer Blessing Ncube (35) of Burniside in Bulawayo. Kasenza said Mufandaedza indicated to Ncube that he was selling the house on behalf of his friend Vetsch based abroad. The suspect allegedly told Ncube that he had been granted permission to sell the two houses, one in Fourwinds and another in Ilanda Bulawayo, and as such he was soliciting for buyers. The court heard that Ncube, at the time was looking for a house to rent and was interested in one in Ilanda, House Number 6 Marry Naison Road. Kasenza told the court that Ncube asked Mufandaedza if he could arrange a rent to buy settlement with the owner. Mufandaedza promised to engage the owner and after a week Mufandaedza is alleged to have told Ncube that Vetsch had agreed to the deal. The deal was on condition that Ncube pays $500 per month in the first six months towards the purchase of the house valued at $233 000. On December 4 at 3pm Mufandaedza went to Ncubes place, where he was allegedly paid rentals for two and half months amounting to $1, 750, which he allegedly converted to his own use. Mufandaedza allegedly wrote a lease agreement which he said was going to send a copy to the house owner for approval. He then allegedly told Ncube she and her family can move in the house on December 15. On December 10 Ncube went to the house to prepare to move in where she was then told by a garners wife that the house owner had instructed them not to allow anyone to move in. She was told that the house was not to let but was for sale after which Ncube phoned the owner who said she did not know the accused and her house was not to let but for sale. Vetsch told Ncube that she received no money from Mufandaedza prompting her to phone Mufandaedza asking to meet him. They reportedly met at Hillside Spar where Ncube discovered that she had been duped and reported the matter to the police leading to Mufandaedzas arrest. Only $200 was recovered from him.
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 06:56:34 +0000
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