Home-seeker loses US$250 000 to fraudster
CHINESE businessman Yao Xiangheng (39) allegedly lost US$250 000 to a suspected fraudster in a botched immovable property deal, the court heard on Saturday.
Torevasei Edwin Mapengo (40) was facing fraud and money laundering charges when he appeared before a Harare magistrate and was remanded in custody to today for bail consideration.
It is the State’s case that sometime in September 2024, the complainant expressed interest in buying an immovable property in greater Harare and he advised some of his workers to find an alternative property.
Mapengo got wind of the issue and hatched a plan to defraud the complainant.
Pursuant to his plan, the accused proceeded to number 27 Dacomb Road, Chisipite, Harare, also known as the remaining extent of Lot 22 Lewisam of Lot E of Colne Valley of Reinfontein measuring 1,9583 hectares. Upon arrival, he interviewed an unsuspecting caretaker Robson Phiri about the ownership of the property.
The court heard that Mapengo was advised that the property belonged to his late boss Jan Patrick Murray and that he was the one taking care of the property since he used to work for him.
Armed with this information, Mapengo proceeded to the Registrar of Companies and obtained the title deed of the said property, which was registered in the deceased’s company, namely, Shepton House Private Limited.
It is alleged that Mapengo then originated a fake form CR14 purporting that he was one of the company directors and also produced a fake Special Power of Attorney dated May 30, 2024, purporting to have been granted special rights to dispose of the said immovable property.
On the same day, using the fake documents, he approached the complainant and advised him that he was selling a hundred (100) percent company shares, inclusive of the said immovable property, for a total amount of US$250 000 on behalf of Shepton House Private Limited.
The complainant agreed to buy the shares and property and they signed an agreement of sale.
After signing the agreement of sale, the complainant paid the accused US$250 000 and was given the fake documents.
Later on, the complainant proceeded to Chisipite with the intention to occupy the property, but was informed by the caretaker that Mapengo was not the owner of the property and it was not for sale.
This prompted the complainant to report the matter to the police.
On the second count, the court heard that on May 3, 2024, Mapengo illegally received US$250 000 which he acquired from Yao Xiansheng, upon commission of fraud and converted the proceeds of crime into the business of buying and selling of cement as well as mining business, thereby concealing or disguising the illicit origins of that money which is contrary to the provisions of the said Money Laundering Act.
Herald
