Dzapasi removed from remand in fraud case

Source: The Herald – Breaking news.

Yeukai Karengezeka,  Court Correspondent

A Harare man accused of swindling a businessman of US$92 000 in a botched residential stand deal has been removed from remand.

Shadreck Dzapasi, from Norton, had been jointly charged alongside Steady Munyoro and James Bleya in connection with the alleged fraud.

While all three were initially released on bail, the court has since removed Dzapasi from remand following developments in the case.

Prosecutor Mr Rufaro Chonzi informed the court that the case record had been referred back to the police for further investigations, with particular attention on Munyoro’s alleged involvement.

Meanwhile, Munyoro and Bleya have failed to appear in court and are now subject to warrants of arrest.

Magistrate Mr Isheunesu Matova granted the removal of Dzapasi from remand, citing insufficient grounds to continue holding him at this stage.

The allegations stem from events earlier this year when the complainant, Mr Matthew Wheeler, sought to acquire a residential stand through the City of Harare’s Department of Housing and Community Services.

According to the State, Mr Wheeler, who had known Dzapasi for some time, was referred by him to Munyoro, who purportedly claimed to be an employee of the City of Harare, capable of expediting the land acquisition process.

When Mr Wheeler met Munyoro, the latter reportedly presented himself as Samuel Chakacha and wore a white dustcoat with the inscription City of Harare, ostensibly to bolster his false claims of being a city employee.

Munyoro assured Mr Wheeler that he could fast-track the application process and secure a stand without delay.

It is alleged that Munyoro, together with Bleya, took possession of Mr Wheeler’s application letter and instructed him to make payments directly to them.

Between June and October of this year, Mr Wheeler allegedly paid a total of US$92,000 to Munyoro and Bleya. Munyoro reportedly signed for the payments and issued fraudulent receipts to Mr Wheeler as proof of the transactions.

The alleged scam unravelled last month when Mr Wheeler visited the City of Harare offices to follow up on the progress of his application. To his shock, he discovered that his file was missing and that neither Dzapasi nor Munyoro were employees of the City of Harare.

While Dzapasi is now free from remand, the case remains active as the State continues its investigations, with Munyoro and Bleya still at large under warrants of arrest.