Currency changing deal turns sour for Harare woman

South African rand slumps to 28-mth low as dollar reigns supreme | Reuters

Zim Now Writer

A Grange man who wanted R36 400 claiming that he had the equivalent US$2 000 to exchange has appeared in court after failing to pay the person who sent him the money.

Tafadzwa Leon Semu, 28, was at the Harare Magistrates' Courts accused of fraud or alternatively contravening Section 136 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, Chapter 9:23.

The complainant in this matter is Natasha Nyarai M. Mugabe, 33, who resides in Mt Hampden, Harare.

Prosecutor Zebediah Bofu alleges that on October 10, 2022, Mugabe received a call from Semu stating that he had US$2 000 cash and he wanted an online transfer of R36 400 in his First National Bank South Africa account which he said was equivalent to the US$2 000.

Mugabe told Semu that she only had R18 200 which was equivalent to US$1 000.

Semu then told Mugabe to make an online transfer of R18 200 into his South African First National Bank account so that he could give her the equivalent.

Mugabe called her brother who stays in South Africa and instructed him to make an electronic transfer of R18 200 into Semu's First National Bank account.

A proof of the online transfer was sent to Mugabe by her brother.

Semu called Mugabe confirming that he had received the money.

Mugabe then asked Semu to bring the US$1 000 cash to her office and he promised to do so.

Semu never came with the money, but started giving excuses until he eventually blocked Mugabe's number. This prompted Mugabe to make a police report at ZRP Marlborough police on October 17, 2022.

On November 9, 2022, Mugabe went to meet Semu's father who had requested to meet her at Newlands shops.

He told her that he was aware of what his son had done and was willing to help him pay back the money.

He gave Mugabe US$100 and wrote a receipt which he gave to Mugabe.

He added that he was going to pay the remaining balance at the end of the month but failed to own up to his promise.

Investigations were carried out and information on the whereabouts of Semu sought, leading to his arrest.

Semu appeared before magistrate Dennis Mangosi who ordered him to pay ZWL$20 000 as bail recognisance. He was ordered to appear in court on 8 February 2023.