A CHIREDZI woman has been jailed for an effective three years after she was convicted of forging the Chiredzi Town Council secretary’s signature to manufacture offer letters, which she used to defraud several unsuspecting home seekers.
Brenda Dhaka was jailed after being convicted of two counts of fraud and one of forgery.
She was convicted by Chiredzi magistrate Tendai Mutamba.
Dhaka was initially jailed 36 months for defrauding Cuthbert Mbanda of Chiredzi of US$5 800 and Precious Mungoni of Triangle of US$4 000 after selling them non-existent residential stands using forged offer letters.
Five months of her jail term were set aside for five years on condition she does not commit a similar offence.
Another seven months were suspended on condition that Dhaka restitutes US$5 800 to Mbanda on or before April 30, 2025.
The magistrate also set aside a further six months on condition that she restitutes US$3 900 to Mungoni before May 2, 2025.
Dhaka will serve 18 months in jail for fraud.
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For forging Chiredzi Town Council secretary Wesley Kauma’s signature and manufacturing offer letters Dhaka was sentenced to 25 months.
Five months of the sentence were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
She will serve an effective 20 months.
The court, however, acquitted Dhaka of conning Romeo Murhaho of US$3 350 in a stand deal and Violet Chikwadze of US$4 000 in a car deal.
The State had alleged that on September 26, 2023, Dhaka connived with Zivanai Moyo, who is still at large, and misrepresented to Murhaho that they were selling a residential stand for US$8 000 in Melborne Park in the farming town.
Murhaho reportedly paid US$4 000 in cash and transferred US$1 000 into a bank account supplied by Dhaka and Moyo.
The court heard that on another occasion, Murhaho handed Moyo US$3 000, but was never given any document relating to the piece of land.
It was said that despite Murhaho demanding documentation for the piece of land, the duo failed to avail it.
He then threatened to report to the police, prompting Dhaka to restitute US$2 150, while Moyo paid US$2 500 before disappearing.
Irked by the duo’s failure to pay the difference, Murhaho reported the matter to the police.
On July 12, 2024, Dhaka allegedly approached Chikwadze and misrepresented to her that she was selling a Toyota RunX, which was registered in her name.
Dhaka was reportedly paid US$4 000 towards the purchase of the car, but failed to hand it over to Chikwadze.
On September 2, 2024, Dhaka connived with Saruna Mutonono and used a counterfeit offer letter to sell residential stand number 7360 Makondo Extension, Chiredzi, to Mbanda for US$5 500.
The matter came to light when Mbanda went to Chiredzi Town Council offices intending to get his plan approved and it was discovered that he had a counterfeit offer letter.
She employed Tadiwanashe Musundire to print the fake offer letters, on which she forged Kauma’s signature.
Moreblessing Rusere appeared for the State.
