A CHINESE national, Liu Bo, appeared in court yesterday facing charges of duping a local transport business owner into hiring out his truck to transport chrome ore, only to use it to ferry lithium ore instead.
The scam was exposed when Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officials seized the truck, sparking an investigation that led to the arrest of the Chinese national.
Liu (43), who is out on US$400 bail and is currently residing in Mt Pleasant, appeared before Harare magistrate Isheanesu Matova charged with fraud and will be back in court on January 7.
He was being represented by Moffat Makuvatsine.
The court heard that the complainant in the matter is Mugwazi Transport, represented by its director Richard Mugwazi.
Appearing for the State, prosecutor Rufaro Chonzi alleged that sometime in October, Liu approached the complainant and told him that he intended to hire a truck for transporting chrome ore from Zimbabwe to Beira, Mozambique, which was to be exported to China.
He allegedly stated that all the exportation documentation was in order and they agreed with Mugwazi for a fee of US$750.
The court heard that after reaching an agreement, Mugwazi released a horse and trailer (container) to Liu, who then allegedly loaded the truck (container) with lithium quartz and sealed it.
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According to Chonzi, Mugwazi, however, later discovered that his truck had been seized by Zimra at Forbes Border Post after it was found carrying lithium ore instead of chrome and it was about to be forfeited.
Mugwazi then reportedly engaged Liu, who became evasive and this prompted the former to file a report.
Chonzi submitted that due to Liu’s misrepresentation, Mugwazi suffered a prejudice of US$30 000.
