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Shamiso Dzingire Court Reporter
A Bulawayo man, 46, who was recently arrested for allegedly defrauding a businessman of maize worth more than $27,000 worked in cahoots with a Harare woman.

Raymond Murisa of Tshabalala suburb pleaded not guilty to three counts of fraud when he appeared in court last week.

On Friday, his co-accused Ester Moyo appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Sibongile Msipa Marondedze facing a fraud charge.

Moyo, through her lawyer Garry Sengweni of T. Hara and Partners, pleaded not guilty.

Applying for bail, Sengweni indicated that his client was not a flight risk as she had come from Harare on her own to attend court.

Sengweni added: “We’re informed that investigations are complete and the state is ready to go for trial, therefore there is no likelihood of interfering with state witnesses. Our prayer is that the accused person be granted bail with conditions that this honourable court deems fit.”

Msipa Marondedze granted Moyo $100 bail and ordered her to reside at her Houghton Park address in Harare and to report once every Monday to Southerton Police Station.

She also ordered Moyo to surrender her passport to the clerk of court.

Prosecuting, Mufaro Mageza said on August 1, Moyo and Murisa called Member Foods Director, Bulisani Tshuma and misrepresented to him that they were in the business of buying and selling maize.

He said they ordered 1,800 bags of maize under the pretext that they would pay after three working days.

“By means of misrepresentation, Tshuma was convinced and supplied 1,800 bags of maize valued at $27,239,70,” Mageza said.

Moyo and Tshuma allegedly disappeared without paying the money, prompting Tshuma to report the matter to the police.

One thousand four hundred bags of maize worth $19,955 were recovered.