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Lovemore Meya Court Correspondent
A Chitungwiza businesswoman reportedly lost $10 400 and R9 200 she had given to a con-artist who had offered to buy her 13 000 bottles of Yardley perfume from South Africa for resale.

Rona Mareya (32) of 31603 in Unit F, owns a shop trading by the name Mr Also Shop at Makoni Shopping Centre. Mareya lost the money to Pauline Chikwitiri (29) of Chakahwata Village, Seke, who allegedly converted it to personal use.

This was after Chikwitiri approached Mareya at her shop in July this year requesting money to start a business. Chikwitiri allegedly told Mareya that she had found a lucrative business of buying and selling Yardley perfumes from South Africa and promised her high returns on the investment.

Mareya then accompanied Chikwitiri to South Africa and used $1 800 to buy 5 000 bottles of the product. When they returned, Mareya gave Chikwitiri perfumes with a market value of $4 000 to sell on her behalf.

Chikwitiri allegedly approached Mareya before she finished selling the perfumes and advised her that the perfume company in SA was about to shut down with the owner leaving for his country.

She asked for more money to buy the product before the company closed. Acting on that misrepresentation, Mareya handed Chikwitiri $2 000 to buy 8 000 bottles of perfume with a market value of $6 500.

Chikwitiri allegedly returned with half the order, claiming she had left some at her sister’s house in SA.

Mareya then gave Chikwitiri 4 000 bottles to sell, from the first batch.

Chikwitiri allegedly sold the perfume but when asked to surrender the proceeds, she gave excuses.

Mr Innocent Tizirai prosecuted.