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Two bogus real estate agents who allegedly defrauded US$198 000 from a home seeker by selling him two stands in Pomona, Borrowdale and offered him fake Deeds of Transfer appeared in court yesterday.
Micheal Makata (47) and Wonder Sande (67) appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Dennis Mangosi charged with fraud. Makata is represented by lawyer Mr Rungano Mahuni.
The matter was remanded to February 27 after the State consented to US$500 bail.
Prosecuting, Mr Rufaro Chonzi alleged that on a period extending from January 2023 to April 2023, the two planned to defraud the complainant Amos Mupuri.
He further alleged that Makata approached Sande indicating that he had a residential stand in Pomona, Borrowadale which he was selling.
Makata reflected to Sande that he could have the residential stand registered in his name for the purpose of defrauding Mupuri.
The State further alleged that Sande agreed with the idea which led Makata to fabricate a fraudulent deed of transfer number 5087/2018 dated 11/09/18 in the former’s name which they produced to Mupuri.
As a result of the duo’s misrepresentation Mupuri paid US$95 000 in instalments towards the purchase of stand number 570 Pomona, Borrowdale, Harare.
The court heard that both Makata and Sande would visit Mupuri to collect cash on several occasions. The court heard that as a way of covering up their fraudulent act, the duo persuaded Mupuri to use their own legal practitioner for conveyance purposes after paying US$5 600. A fraudulent deed of transfer number 2848/2023 was issued.
The crime came to light when Mupuri realised that someone was claiming ownership of the residential stand sold to him by Makata.
Mupuri went to verify the authenticity of Deed of transfer number 2848/2023 and it turned out to be fake.
On January 21, 2024, Mupuri came across Makata and Sande and alerted police, leading to the duo’s arrest. As a result, Mupuri suffered an actual prejudice of US$100 600 and nothing was recovered.
On the second count, during the period extending from June 2023 to November 2023, the duo, and others who are still at large, used the same modus defraud Mupuri of US$98 000.
The pair misrepresented that they had a residential stand located at number 571 Pomona, Borrowdale Harare.
The duo registered the stand in one of the accomplice’s name who is still at large. They went to facilitate a fraudulent Deed of Transfer number 870/2018 dated 11/09/18.
The State alleged that as a result of this misrepresentation Mupuri paid US$84 800 towards the purchase of stand number 571 Pomona Borrowdale, Harare.
As a way of covering up their fraudulent act the duo persuaded Mupuri to use their own legal practitioner for conveyance purposes upon paying US$2 000, who then issued deed of transfer as number 6020/2023.
The offence came to light when Mupuri realised that someone was claiming ownership to the residential stand.
Mupuri realised that he had been duped after he sought verification of the authenticity of Deed of transfer Number 6020/2023 which also turned out to be fake.
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