A 23-year-old man from Waterfalls has appeared in court facing fraud charges after allegedly selling a car he had no authority to dispose of.
Paul Mugova was brought before magistrate Apollonia Marutya and was granted US$100 bail.
Prosecutor Takudzwa Mutyavaviri represented the State.
The complainant, Tatenda Pardington Manyenga ,33, operates a vehicle buying and selling business.
The court heard that on August 7, Mugova approached Manyenga at his workplace with a recently imported Mercedes-Benz C-Class (chassis number WDD2050402R189268), which had no number plates.
He allegedly misrepresented that he had verbal authority from the vehicle’s owner, Anymore Mapuranga, to sell it. Mugova offered the car for US$14 000, and the complainant paid the full amount.
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A sales agreement was signed, with Mugova posing as the seller. Manyenga was also handed stamped original import documents bearing Mapuranga’s name.
As a dealer, Manyenga later advertised the car for resale at US$20 000.
On August 17, Mugova returned, claiming the original owner had found a buyer and requested to show the vehicle to the client.
Trusting him, Manyenga released the car, but Mugova disappeared with it, switched off his phone, and blocked all communication. A police report was then filed.
The vehicle was eventually recovered from Mapuranga, who denied ever authorising its sale or receiving any payment.
Mugova was arrested on September 12 after being on the run. The complainant was prejudiced of US$14,000.
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