Two bogus estate agents have appeared in court over a botched housing stand deal after allegedly defrauding a Harare man of over USD $180,000.
The complainant in the matter is Amos Mupuri.
The two allegedly conspired to deceive Mupuri, reportedly by claiming that they were selling residential stands in Pomona, Borrowdale, state prosecutor Rufaro Chonzi told the court.
Due to the two’s alleged false representations, Mupuri had to pay US$95,000 in instalments to acquire stand number 570 Pomona, Borrowdale.
Payment of US$5,600 was made after they convinced Mupuri to use their lawyer for conveyancing, after which Mupuri was handed a fraudulent deed of transfer number 2848/2023.
The complainant was deprived of US$100,600 in actual prejudice and received no compensation. Using the same tactic on the second count, the pair falsely claimed to Mupuri that they owned a residential stand at 571 Pomona. The two then produced another fraudulent Deed of Transfer with number 870/2018, dated November 9, 2018.
The State, through Chonzi alleged that as a result of this misrepresentation Mupuri paid US$84 800 towards the purchase of the second stand.
The suspects allegedly persuaded Mupuri to use their legal practitioner for conveyance purposes once more, upon a payment of US$2 000.
The offence came to light when Mupuri realised that someone else was also claiming ownership of the same residential stand.
