Real Star Security Company manager up for stealing...

Real Star Security Company manager up for stealing over US$11k

Michael Mashiri

An assistant operations manager of Real Star Security Company has been denied bail after being taken to court for stealing over US$11 000.

Stephen Charakupa, 44, of Seke, Chitungwiza, appeared in court charged with theft of trust property.

He will appear in court on March 20, for bail application.

The State alleges that between November 16, 2023, and January 2024, Charakupa, gathered information that the company was in the process of acquiring a fleet of cars for its business in South Africa.

He then approached the general manager of the company, who is the complainant in this matter, and told him that he could facilitate the purchase of one of the cars, a Nissan NP300, at a lower price than the company had been quoted.

The State alleges that he was using his wife's influence whom he claimed was employed by the Ministry of Defence and Security as a colonel and is attached at Zimra Beitbridge.

It is alleged that the company was convinced and entrusted Charakupa to help in purchasing the car.

The State alleges that together with one Anymore Munyaradzi Mauru, Charakupa was given US$10 250, on different dates, for the purchase of the car.

Charakupa and his accomplice allegedly went on to use the money for their own benefit and failed to hand over the car to the complainant.

The State also alleges that in November 2023, Charakupa, allegedly lied to the complainant that there was sale of farming land measuring twenty-one hectares in Banket, and that allocation was done upon payment of the purchase fee of US$1 500.

It is alleged that Charakupa went on to say that his wife had connections in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, and she could help in the purchase of the land.

The complainant was convinced and he gave Charakupa and his accomplice US$1 500, for the land, and was promised to receive the offer letter for the land in January.

Days passed by and the complainant did not receive any offer letter from the accused persons or from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development.

The State alleges that the complainant discovered that he had been defrauded by the accused persons after he approached the Ministry for clarity, only to be told that the accused persons had no capacity to act on behalf of the Ministry.

As a result US$11 750 was defrauded.