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Tafadzwa Zimoyo: Senior Court Reporter

Five Harare men have appeared in court on charges of selling non-existent housing stands. Arthur Chideme, Kelvin Museti, Stephen Mashingaidze and Life Majungura appeared before magistrate Mrs Gamuchirai Siwardi last week facing fraud charges. They allegedly defrauded Frank Masuka of $7 690.It is the State’s case that sometime in October, Mashingaidze approached Masuka claiming to be the chief executive officer of a property firm Sancrestar and said they were selling stands countrywide.

Accompanied by Museti, he held a meeting with Masuka at Chikurubi Support Unit and claimed that his company was selling 30 residential stands at Eastview Phase 5 Extension.

The parties agreed on a payment plan. Masuka then paid $7 690 through RTGs for 30 stands. On November 17, three stands allocated to Masuka were claimed by other people who produced URDCOP cards as proof of ownership.