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Fungai Lupande Court Reporter
AN accountant at Unilever Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd last week appeared in court accused of secretly making his employer a guarantor in a $50 000 loan scam. Tinashe Murandu (35) allegedly connived with Tradesphere Trading (Pvt) Ltd directors Plan Musarurwa and Victor Mpofu to forge loan papers.

Murandu appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Francis Mapfumo facing fraud charges last Friday. He was ordered to pay $500 bail, surrender his passport and report every Friday at CID Serious Frauds. The complainant is Unilever Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd represented by its finance manager Mr Joseph Ndungu.

The prosecutor Mrs Idah Maromo alleged that in October last year, Murandu connived with Musarurwa, Mpofu and other accomplices Michael Makotore and Terrence Dikinya, who are on the run. It is alleged that Tradesphere Trading (Pvt) Ltd wanted Unilever Zimbabwe to be a guarantor in their application for a $50 000 loan.

Tradesphere Trading (Pvt) Ltd wanted a loan from Newlands Financial Services to buy a 5-tonne truck. They needed a guarantor from a reputable company. It is alleged that Murandu, Musarurwa, Mpofu, Makotore and Dikinya then forged a letter of guarantee. They also forged a board of directors’ resolution purporting the documents were from Unilever Zimbabwe.

Musarurwa and Mpofu took the documents to Newlands Financial Services where they acquired a finance lease. Musarurwa and Mpofu later failed to service the loan, prompting Newlands Financial Services to approach Unilever Zimbabwe for recourse.

They produced the forged documents and Unilever Zimbabwe discovered that they were signed by Murandu, Makotore and Dikinya. They had no capacity to issue such documents and the matter was reported to the police.