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Crime Reporter

TWO suspected fraudsters, including a woman have been arrested on allegations of forging documents to sell a residential stand in Tynwald for US$13 000.

The two Shyleen Sirani (31) and Joseph Muketiwa (41) were arrested by Police Anti- Corruption Unit for fraud.

Investigations have revealed that the suspects and their other accomplice who is still on the run hatched a plan to defraud a 27-year-old man of the cash amounting to US$13000.

It is alleged that in pursuance of their plan, they manufactured counterfeit deed of transfer documents of a certain homestead in Tynwald and a fake plastic identity card.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrests and said investigations were still in progress.

“The suspects were arrested for fraud involving a sale of residential stand using forged documents in Tynwald, Harare.

“The two suspects and the other one who is still at large hatched a plan to defraud the victim aged 27 of cash amounting to USD 13000,” he said.

A report was then made to the police leading to their arrest.

“The ZRP appeals to other home seekers who were duped in the same manner to come forward and lodge their complaints at any nearest police station. Investigations are in progress.”

Last year, two notorious Chitungwiza fraudsters who allegedly sold other people’s land using fake identity cards face arrest on sight after they jumped bail and failed to turn up for their trial on charges of defrauding buyers of US$52 000.

The warrant of arrest for Emmerson Chigonyati (46) and Enoss Gwangwadza (23) was issued by Harare provincial magistrate Mrs Vongai Muchuchuti after they failed to appear in court for trial.
The duo was out on $5 000 bail each.

It is alleged that sometime in June last year the two connived with two others to defraud home-seekers and they flighted an advert in The Herald for the sale of a Mandara stand.

The court heard that the complainant’s wife phoned and spoke to someone who misrepresented himself as Jupiter Charles Punungwe and gave her directions to the stand and she viewed it and developed an interest. It is the State’s case that the two parties agreed on a purchase price of US$35 000.

The woman’s husband sold their property in Chitungwiza and advised the suspects that they were ready to purchase the stand.

The accused allegedly misrepresented that they lived in Chivhu and on August 8 they invited the complainant and his wife there to make the payments.

The court heard that Chigonyati misrepresented to the complainant that he was Punungwe, the owner of the stand, and produced a metal identification card bearing that name. It is alleged that Gwangwadza identified himself as Sam Mugari, nephew to Chigonyati, and produced a plastic identity card bearing that name.

The accused persons allegedly produced a fraudulent deed of transfer number 0008695/2001 in the name of Punungwe and convinced the complainant that he was buying a genuine stand.
The court heard that the complainant paid US$32 000 to Chigonyati, resulting in the signing of an agreement of sale.

After the payment the complainant asked for a group photo to be taken in the company of the accused persons, which he took using his cellphone