Bulawayo music sensation Sandra Ndebele was allegedly defrauded of ZWL$100 000 in a foreign currency exchange deal gone wrong, a local court has heard.
Ndebele was defrauded of her money by Simangani Gwemende (45) of Emganwinini suburb.
Gwemende who pleaded not guilty to a fraud charge before Bulawayo magistrate Lizwe Jamela, Wednesday, awaits her bail ruling.
Prosecuting, Terrence Chakabuda, narrated to the court that on October 12, 2018, Gwemende allegedly defrauded Ndebele after misrepresenting that she can source foreign currency for the musician.
“Gwemende and her accomplices Amanda Onwuchukwu and Lindiwe Ndlovu who are still on the run hatched a plan to defraud Ndebele. She approached Ndebele and misrepresented that she was in a position to source foreign currency for her. Believing that Gwemende and Onwuchuku were advancing a genuine story, Ndebele gave them ZWL$100 000 for them to source foreign currency for her,” said Chakabuda.
“After receiving the money, the Gwemende and Onwuchuku reportedly failed to avail the foreign currency. Instead, they allegedly roped in Ndlovu who proceeded to Collen Bawn police station where she filed a false police report indicating that she lost $80 100 and US$8 230 through theft.”
Chakabuda said investigations into the alleged theft established that Ndlovu had filed a false theft report to cover up the fraud.
“Ndlovu was then charged and convicted of making a false report to the police. Ndebele suffered an actual prejudice of $100 000 and nothing was recovered,” said the prosecutor.
