THE National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has declined to prosecute a counter-report filed by gaming company Bezbets against a punter who won a US$5 200 bet last month.
The betting company had made a counter-report of fraud and refused to pay a punter who placed a bet and won $5 200.
In its counter-report, Bezbets claimed the punter placed a wrong bet, therefore, it was an act of fraud.
The report was, however, declined prosecution at the vetting stage after it emerged that the company was refusing to pay without any reasonable grounds.
The punter reported Bezbets Betting to the police after they disabled his online account and refused to pay him his money a day after the incident.
He also filed a lawsuit at the Civil Court to recover his money.
In that matter, the company is being represented by its manager Robson Chinamasa.
Chinamasa pleaded not guilty to fraud charges and trial is expected to commence on December 8 before Harare magistrate Simon Kandiyero.
Prosecuting, Faith Mavhudzi alleged that on October 26 at the Bezbets online platform, the complainant placed a bet on the roulette with a stake of US$394.
The platform gave him a potential win of US$5 400, provided the bet won.
The complainant won the bet and he proceeded to the shop to withdraw his sum of US$5 400.
However, the court heard that Chinamasa refused to make a payout of US$5 400 and instead offered US$1 800.
The complainant, realising that he had been duped, filed a report with the police.