A LOCAL fertiliser retail company reportedly lost 39 bags of fertilisers to a fraudster from Mbare after he forged receipts and collected goods he did not pay for.

Twenty-two-year-old Victor Vambe was early this week arraigned before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi facing forgery and fraud charges.

He was released on US$100 bail and ordered to reside at his given address and not to interfere with State witnesses until the matter is finalised.

The State alleged that sometime in November this year, Vambe and his accomplice Lovemore Randa went to Farm and City Centre in Harare and bought one bag of ammonium nitrate Superfert fertiliser and two bags of Compound D Superfert fertiliser.

Vambe allegedly forged the receipts to indicate that he had paid for 39 bags of fertiliser.

The court heard that the duo collected 39 bags of fertiliser and sold them in Mbare.

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Police received a tip-off and went to Matagarika Flats in Mbare, where they approached the duo pretending to be buyers.

The police advised Vambe that they wanted to buy 20 bags of fertiliser and Vambe said he only had 12.

The complainant positively identified his fertiliser leading to Vambe's arrest.

Police recovered 21 bags of compound D and 13 bags of ammonium nitrate fertiliser.