Manager swindles Simbisa of $95k

A MANAGER at Simbisa Holdings has been arrested for allegedly swindling the company of more than $95 000. The company runs former Innscor fast food outlets. A court in Bulawayo yesterday heard how Trust Machaka (40) stole the money between July last year and July this year.

Machaka was arraigned before Bulawayo magistrate Miss Evelyn Mashavakure facing 13 counts of theft. He was not asked to plead and remanded to October 11 on $300 bail.

Machaka was ordered to report at Hillside police station every Monday and Friday as part of his bail conditions. Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo for the State told the court that Machaka stole $95 533.91.

“The accused person would receive turnovers made by all the shops, Pizza Inn, Bakers Inn, Creamy Inn, Chicken Inn, Mr Baker, Steers and Nando’s.

“His responsibility was to deposit the money into the company’s account. Each month he would under-bank the amounts,” said Mr Dlodlo.

“In July last year accused person took $2 956, in August $16 243, September $15 412, October $11 912, November $ 9 901, December $9 901.

“In January this year he stole $7 003, February $1 343, March $8 594, April $2 114, May $7 922, June $5 049 and July $11 126.”

He said the company’s finance manager, Mr Lifa Ncube, discovered the shortfalls while verifying the banking figures on September 9, leading to Machaka’s arrest. — @tannytkay