A South African based businessman is counting his loses after he was allegedly made to pay R372 984 and US$4 730 to have his chrome concentrate cleared by a fake clearing agent.
The clearing agent Isaac Bachi (39) appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi charged with fraud.
He was remanded out of custody on US$100 bail and will return to court on July 22. The complainant is Sadam Mangwiro, a director at GAFA Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, a South African company in the business of trading and transporting various commodities including grain and minerals.
Prosecutor Rufaro Chonzi alleged that sometime in March, Mangwiro was referred to Bachi, who claimed to be an agent for Transmount Clearing, Shipping and Freight (Pvt) Ltd, a company in the business of freight forwarding, clearing, and shipping.
Bachi allegedly misrepresented that he was a registered clearing agent and was engaged by Mangwiro to clear his trucks carrying chrome concentrate to South Africa.
It is alleged Bachi instructed Mangwiro to make various payments totaling R372 984 into his bank account and FNB bank account and cash US$4 730 for the clearing of the trucks. Mangwiro later discovered through his drivers that the clearance documents were fake and the trucks had been impounded by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority.
Mangwiro was unable to locate Bachi, who stopped answering calls until his arrest.