Former Kencor Accounts Officer Defrauds Company ...

Former Kencor Accounts Officer Defrauds Company of Over US$21k

Munyaradzi Mashiri

Zim Now Court Correspondent

A former accounts officer at Kencor Management Services Private Limited has been arraigned in court over allegations of fraud amounting to more than US$21,000.

Martin Chiwisa, 29, of Cranborne, appeared before Magistrate Dennis Mangosi at the Harare Magistrates' Courts, facing charges of fraud. He was granted bail of US$50 and is set to return to court on December 2, 2024.

According to the prosecution, led by Rufaro Chonzi, Chiwisa worked at Kencor Management Services as an accounts officer from April 2024 until July 19, 2024, when he resigned. On July 22, he reportedly began a new role as a financial accountant at Allied Timbers Zimbabwe.

Between June and August 2024, Chiwisa, allegedly in collaboration with Tawanda Kanengoni and Anderson Mashoro, who are still at large, used a Lenovo E540 laptop (serial number CND3301X9) belonging to Kencor and an HP Envy 360 laptop (serial number CND33011X9) issued by Allied Timbers. Through AnyDesk, a remote desktop application, they allegedly accessed Kencor's computer system using the login credentials of Adrene Chisaka, who is also facing related charges.

Once inside the system, Chiwisa is accused of generating fake codes to create fictitious "return to supplier" documents, making it appear as though credit notes were issued by suppliers confirming that inventory had been returned. In reality, no such returns were made. Inventory items like broiler finisher, sow and boar meal, fertilizers, pig grower finisher, and squash pluto were falsely logged as returned to Kencor’s creditors, including Seedco, Orgfert, and Sunray.

Additionally, on July 27, it is alleged that Chiwisa, Kanengoni, and Mashoro used the Farmshop Chivhu branch as a hub to misappropriate inventory. CCTV footage purportedly captured an unregistered truck being loaded with goods at the Chivhu branch, inventory that was allegedly converted for personal use.

The offense was uncovered on August 16, 2024, during an internal audit which included a review of sales and banking records along with an inventory count from July 25 to August 16. Following the audit, it was revealed that Kencor had lost inventory valued at US$21,292.17.

Chiwisa was subsequently arrested on November 6 at Allied Timbers Zimbabwe in Mutare. The HP Envy 360 laptop in his possession was verified as property of Allied Timbers, issued to him upon his employment there in July.

Kencor Management Services reportedly suffered a loss of US$21,292.17, with none of the inventory recovered to date.