Luck runs out for conman

A CONMAN has been arrested on three counts of fraud for allegedly duping prospective teaching and nursing students in Mutare of their money three years ago.

Onias Ndoro (48), of House Number 13335 Gimboki South, was arrested in Harare on February 4, after being tracked down by one of his victims.

He is now set to face fraud charges at a Mutare Magistrates’ Court.

Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa confirmed Ndoro’s arrest.

“We have three complainants who collectively lost $1 300 to the accused,” he said.

“Ndoro was tracked down by one of his victims from back then who facilitated his subsequent arrest.”

Insp Kakohwa said Ndoro had posed as a registrar at both Mutare Hospital and Marymount Teachers’ College.

He also purported to be an employee at Red Cross Manicaland and requested fees ranging from $500 to be paid to him to secure enrolment.

“Once contacted by prospective students, he would instruct them to pay a $500 fee and request them to call him a week later to confirm their placements,” said Kakohwa.

One of Ndoro’s victims, only identified as Malcom, claimed he lost $500, which he paid to the accused in cash to secure a place at a nursing school at Mutare Provincial Hospital in 2015.

“He posed as a registrar and assured me that I would get placement at Mutare Provincial Hospital and start training in a matter of weeks,” said Malcom. “He requested that I pay him $500 to ensure that I would secure placement for the September 2015 intake, but nothing materialised.

“I let go of the September intake issue in anticipation that something was going to come up during the January intake, but still nothing materialised out of the deal.

This is when I realised I had been duped and filed a report with the police.”

Ndoro is believed to have relocated to South Africa in 2016, only to return to Harare this year.

Upon his return, Malcom, who had been tracking the accused for two years, followed him to Harare and notified Marlborough Police Station of Ndoro’s return, leading to the arrest.

His other victims lost $500 and $300 in the same manner.