Top businessman Tempter Tungwarara’s Prevail International Trust was defrauded of a property valued at US$75,000 by an alleged habitual fraudster, Tadious Marufu.
Marufu, who faces similar charges in other pending cases, appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi, who adjourned the matter to today for bail rulings. The allegations state that last year, Marufu conspired with Erick Dube, who remains at large, to defraud the trust, represented by its property manager Golden Maisiri.
As part of their scheme, they fraudulently obtained a title deed for property number 825 in Mandara Township, Harare, which is owned by Elizabeth Khaka.
They also created a fake special power of attorney in the name of Ryan Tichaona Murape, falsely claiming that Murape was authorized by Elizabeth Khaka to sell the property.
It is alleged that thetwo then forged a sale agreement, pretending that Ryan Tichaona Murape had sold the property on behalf of Elizabeth Khaka.
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Armed with the fraudulent documents, the duo approached the trust, offering the property for sale at US$75,000.
Representing the trust, Maisiri agreed to the transaction, and an agreement of sale dated July 24, 2023, was drafted with Marufu as the seller and the trust as the buyer.
The trust paid a deposit of US$35,000 on the same day, and the remaining US$40,000 was paid by August 31, 2023.
Marufu then informed Maisiri that the change of ownership would occur simultaneously from Elizabeth Khaka to Marufu’s name, and then to Prevail International Trust, with the assistance of lawyers TK Hove and Partners.
The trust began making improvements on the property, including the construction of garden flats, but was later approached by Elizabeth Khaka, who informed them that she was the rightful owner of the property under development.
The trust immediately halted construction and conducted further verifications, discovering that the actual owner of the property was Elizabeth Khaka and that the property was never for sale.
They also found that the Power of Attorney presented by Marufu and Dube was fraudulent and had not been issued by Elizabeth Khaka.
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