Marondera businessman Francesco Marconati has been convicted on three counts of fraud.
Marconati who appeared before Harare Magistrate Ethel Chichera will be sentenced on Monday after his lawyer applied for bail pending sentence.
The magistrate found Marconati guilty after the state proved that the businessman abused Eagle Italian shoes money to pay the Parks and Wildlife Authority for Mana Pools Safari lodge Investments lease.
The magistrate found him guilty, but requested the state to submit the an amount in the new local Zimbabwe Gold currency since the funds were paid in then demonitised Zimbabwe dollar.
According to the State, the accused admitted to transferring US$100 000 equivalent in the demonetized local currency.
The complainant is Li Song, a shareholder and Director of Eagle Italian Shoes, Private Limited Company.
Allegations are that on October 2, 2023, the accused person transferred money amounting to RTGS 100 000 000-00 from an Eagle Italian company to the Parks Authority without the knowledge of co shareholders.
The transaction was for lease fees payment for Ecis Investments Private Limited trading as Mana Pools Lodge, a company which belongs to Marconati without the knowledge and consent of the complainant.
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Song made a report to police.
A First Capital Bank statement which reflects the above transaction was produced in court as an exhibit.
Marconati also transferred RTGS $110 921 356 -00 from an Eagle Italian company to the Parks on another date.
On October 25 last year, he transferred RTGS $256 586 778 -22 to the Parks.
