Conniving managers convicted for fraud

TWO former Mutare Bottling Company managers who siphoned US$76 000 from their employer have been slapped with a five-year jail term each.

The duo, Thabo Mpofu (37) and Tariro Maringapasi (61), were found guilty of 14 counts of fraud after a full trial before Mutare senior magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe.

They were jointly charged with Stewart Chidawanyika (38), who was, however, acquitted after the State failed to produce incriminating evidence against him.

Chidawanyika, who was employed as a debtor’s controller, lives in Sakubva, while Mpofu, who was employed as an accountant, hails from Bulawayo. Maringapasi of Chikanga 3 was employed as the sales manager.

On passing the sentence, Mr Mahwe said one year had been set aside on condition of good behaviour. An additional three years were set also aside on condition that the duo reinstitutes Mutare Bottling Company $38 000 each.

The remaining one year was set aside on condition that they perform 240 hours of community service.

Prosecutor Mr Mutyasira told the court that Maringapasi retired and founded Ukuzenzele Marketing Enterprises (UME), whose core business was to sell soft drinks purchased from the complainant.

“On April 2016, UME, through Maringapasi, entered into a distribution memorandum of agreement to be the sole and exclusive distributor of the complainant’s products at Dangamvura and Vengere bus termini.

“There was a customer credit limit of $21 000 as from May 2016,” he said.

It is alleged that UME failed to service its account.

However, the three suspects connived to credit UME’s account with payments made by other clients.

“On December 2, 2016, Andrew Murwisi, who operates a wholesaler in Murambinda, transferred $7 000 via EcoCash, with the intention of servicing his account. The money was diverted and receipted against UME’s debt,” said Mr Mutyasira.

Several clients lost various amounts that were diverted and credited into UME’s account.

This modus operandi was executed on 14 different occasions before the trio’s luck ran out.