Wonderful motors boss up for US$100k fraud

Michael Mashiri

Zim Now Court Correspondent

Wonderful Motors Private Limited Co-director has been arraigned before the courts accused of fraud.

Wonderful Masiiwa, 33, of Eastview, appeared before magistrate Dennis Mangosi at the Harare Magistrate's Courts accused of fraud and defeating the course of justice.

The complainant in this matter is Kelvin Tetena, 33.

The State, through prosecutor Thomas Chanakira, alleges that sometime in March, Masiiwa who was working with Shingiray Nyamariwata sold a residential stand in Borrowdale, Harare to Tetena.

They charged Tetena US$130 000, and he negotiated with the accused and they agreed at a total purchase price of US$105 000.

Tetena agreed with the accused to pay US$45 000 cash, a Honda Fit valued at US$5 000 and a Toyota Hilux GD6 valued US$55 000.

In June 2024, Tetena was informed that the same stand had been brought by Clive Chisenye.

Tetena engaged the accused and managed to recover his Toyota Hilux from Shingirayi Nyamariwata and another car, a Honda fit registration could not be recovered since it had been taken by the Masiiwa.

Tetena discovered that he had been duped and reported the matter to police leading to the arrest of Nyamariwata.

It is alleged that on August 20, 2024, detectives from CID CCD were informed that Masiiwa was at his workplace leading to his arrest.

As a result, the complainant lost US$105 000 and US$55 000 was recovered.

The State also alleges that on August 12, 2024, Masiiwa was invited at CID Commercial Crimes Division Harare by Tetena and advised that they are investigations being done in connection with a Honda Fit which he received from Nyamarutwa.

The accused person was told that the car was acquired through a fraudulent act.

It is alleged that Masiiwa was asked to supply information to where he had disposed the car since the police needed it as an exhibit in this case.

Masiiwa then promised to supply the information after checking his records at his office.

The complainant later made a follow up of the information from Masiiwa who became hostile and refused to give the information of the vehicle.

On August 20, 2024, detectives visited Masiiwa at his office and was asked to supply the information of the car, he refused and he was further requested to supply his register which has all records of his transaction as a second hand dealer in connection with the car and he confirmed to have never booked it.

He appeared in court yesterday for bail application.