SA national remanded over $23k fraud

Michael Mashiri

A South African national, who is facing charges of fraud involving US$23 000, has been remanded in custody to 6 December, 2022.

Conelius Johannes Jacobus Naude (55) appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Court facing fraud charges as defined in Section 136 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.

Khumbulani Tshambo (40) of Mkhosana in Victoria Falls, the Director of Super Fuels Victoria is the complainant in the matter.

The court was informed that in August 2021, Tshambo wanted to purchase bulk fuel so he engaged Philan Sibanda and Nkonsilati Sibanda so that they would look for a genuine supplier who could supply him fuel in Victoria Falls.

Nkosilati engaged his friend Paul Zhou, who linked him to Naude and his two accomplices, who are still at large.

Naude and his accomplices purported to be employees of ZIANE Petroleum Private Limited, a company they claimed was located at Number 31 Baywater, Highlands in Harare. They indicated that they had capacity to supply fuel in bulk.

Acting upon the lies, Philan and Nkosilati had a meeting with Naude and his accomplices on 8 September, 2021 in Harare.

Naude and his accomplices indicated that their company had the capacity to supply 40 000 litres of diesel every week at a price of US$1.09 per litre and Tshambo found the prices favourable.

He then tasked his brother, Busani Mpofu and Philan to go to Harare to collect the fuel. They met Nkosilati, who then gave them a CBZ Bank account number registered in the name of Gainmore Paka, which he said had been supplied by Naude and his accomplices.

On 9 September, 2021 Tshambo deposited USD$23 000 into the CBZ Bank account to buy and transport 20 000 litres of diesel from Harare to Victoria Falls.

After that, Nkosilati took Busani and Philan to number 31 Baywater, Highlands in Harare where they met Naude’s accomplices.

Trymore Maphosa, who claimed to be a truck driver of ZAINE Petroleum Private Limited, left saying he was going to Msasa to make arrangements of loading the fuel.

After some time, he phoned Philan saying he had loaded the fuel and advised him to meet him at Whitehouse along Bulawayo Road on his way to Bulawayo.

Philan and Busani went to Whitehouse to meet Maphosa but without success because he had switched off his phone. That was when they realised that they had duped and they reported the matter to the police.

As a result, Tshambo suffered a loss of US$23 000 and nothing was recovered.

Magistrate Dennis Mangosi remanded Naude in custody to 6 December, 2022.