HARARE - A Glen View businessman allegedly created a fake City of Harare receipt book and defrauded an unsuspecting resident of more than $99 000 in a housing stands deal.
Samuel Saungweme, 35, was released on $200 bail when he appeared before Harare magistrate Tendai Mahwe facing fraud charges.
He was remanded to April 10.
During his bail application, Saungweme’s lawyer said his client was a proper candidate for bail because he is a family man who runs a night club at Glen View 1 shops and would not flee.
He said Saungweme availed himself to the police, cooperated with investigations, giving a clear indication that he has no intention to take flight.
The state opposed bail on the basis that Saungweme was facing a very serious offence and there was overwhelming evidence linking him to the offence.
Prosecutor Farai Gatsi alleged that during the period between March 2011 and February this year, Saungweme misrepresented to Asthiak Ahmed Afghan that he could purchase four residential stands on his behalf from City of Harare in Belvedere.
Each of the stands measured 2 000 square metres and Saungweme was given $99 510 in part payment by Afghan.
Saungweme would bring fake receipts purported to have been issued by the City of Harare.
Some of the money was not receipted at all because Saungweme claimed that it was meant for facilitating the processing of title deeds.
Saungweme converted the money to his own use and failed to avail the stands and title deeds to Afghan.