Chimutashu on the run after botched US$30 000 car ...

Chimutashu on the run after botched US$30 000 car deal involving late deputy minister's daughter

Malven Chimutashu

Zim Now Writer

Police are on the hunt for Malven Chimutashu, a suspected fraudster who has since disappeared during his trial after he sold a new Mercedes Benz C200 for US$33 000.

The vehicle no documents needed for registration and though it was later seized by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, it has also vanished in the midst of the trial.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the suspect had committed a similar offence before.

“The ZRP is appealing for information which may lead to the arrest of Malven Chimutashu,40, whose last known address is 27 Colne Brook Lane, Borrowdale, Harare. The suspect is being sought by the police in connection with a case of fraud which occurred in May 2019 in Borrowdale, Harare,” he said.

In 2019, Ionna Kiki Georgias, the daughter of late former deputy minister Arguy Clement Georgias, was looking for a Mercedes Benz vehicle to buy and was referred to Chimutashu who showed her the C200 with no registration plates and said he wanted to sell it for US$33 000 cash.

Ms Georgias agreed to buy the vehicle and made three payments of US$10 000, US$18 000 and US$5 000 to Chimutashu who then gave her the vehicle.

A few days later, Chimutashu allegedly gave her fake temporary registration number plates.

Investigations conducted found the car was not registered in Zimbabwe since it was brought in using a temporary import permit and it was impounded by Zimra.

Ms Georgias made a report to the police who then arrested Chimutashu before he appeared before the courts.

During the trial, Chimutashu disappeared and a warrant of arrest has since been issued against him.

This is not the first time that Chimutashu has been linked to such crimes.

In December last year, a Harare magistrate ordered the messenger of court to attach his property worth US$10 000 after his company, EBA Insurance, failed to pay rent for one year to retired banker Lawrence Tamayi.

Chimutashu was renting Tamayi’s property in Mt Pleasant, Harare.

According to reports, Chimutashu also did the same to avoid paying rentals at Misheck Kachere’s Arundel property.

It is reported that there were several other cases involving fraud which had been brought to the courts involving Chimutashu.

Anyone with information leading to his arrest can contact any nearest police station or the investigating officer, Detective-Inspector Makanyisa on 0772967155, or the Officer-in-Charge CID VTS Harare on 0242-660400/661889/665524, or the National Complaints Desk on 0242703631.