A trio appeared before the Bulawayo Regional Court facing charges of fraud and money laundering involving US$34,500 belonging to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
The accused are Rubbie Chinana ,54, and Ashel Chinana ,35, both of Cowdray Park in Bulawayo, and Tichawanda Kevin Chinyande ,31, of Southview, Harare.
The court heard that RBZ had contracted Kutting Edge Events to construct an exhibition stand at the Harare Agricultural Show for US$34,500, with payment to be made in two instalments into the company’s Steward Bank account.
However, the accused, acting in connivance with others still at large, allegedly hacked into the contractor’s email system and fraudulently altered the banking details.
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On August 28 this year, RBZ allegedly deposited US$17,250 into Rubbie Chinana’s Stanbic Bank account, followed by another US$17,250 on September 2. Investigations revealed that the money was laundered through several accounts.
Rubbie is alleged to have transferred US$6,500 to Ashel’s NMB account, while another US$6,500 was withdrawn and sent to a South African contact, Richard Nyadongo, through Mukuru, with Ashel pocketing US$250 as commission.
Ashel also allegedly withdrew US$6,500 from her NMB account and deposited it into Chinyande’s ZB account on the instructions of another suspect, Anold Kasasa, who is still at large.
The court granted each accused bail of US$150 on condition they reside at their given addresses, do not interfere with witnesses, and report to ZRP Bulawayo Central every Friday.
Chinyande was further ordered to surrender his passport to the Clerk of Court. The matter was remanded to September 30.
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