A BOGUS clearing agent appeared in court yesterday on fraud charges after defrauding a customer of over $7,000 before fleeing to Zambia.
Tinashe Karuru was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Evelyn Mashavakure, who remanded him in custody until today’s bail hearing.
The court heard that on August 28, last year, Karuru introduced himself as a clearing agent at Chirundu Border Post.
The woman hired him to purchase a Honda Fit Hybrid from Japan.
He allegedly charged her US$4 950 as the total purchase price from Japan to Chirundu.
He later demanded US$1 350 as importation expenses.
After payment of all the money, the woman was told to expect her vehicle in December at Chirundu Border Post.
She made some follow-ups, several times, and was eventually told that the vehicle had arrived at Chirundu Border Post.
The woman went to the border to collect her vehicle but Karuru’s mobile phone number was no longer reachable when she arrived.
She made numerous efforts to get in touch with him before locating him in Zambia, leading to his arrest.
