ED’s son duped by fraudster

It seems the first family is not immune to being conned.A Harare man purporting to be a well-established wedding garments designer and supplier is alleged to have pulled a fast one on President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s son and got away with US$1 500. Reports have revealed that Emmerson Tanaka Mnangagwa, more popularly known as St Emmo in the entertainment circles, contracted Samsong Mavhunga from Hillside suburb in Harare to deliver five men’s suits from Italy for his wedding. Mavhunga charged Emmerson Jr US$ 3 500 of which he paid US$ 1 500 deposit.

Unfortunately, when it was time to deliver the suits, two weeks before the wedding as agreed, nothing materialised. After efforts to get a refund from Mavhunga fell flat, Emmerson Jr was then forced to report the matter to the police, leading to Mavhunga’s arrest.Appearing before Harare magistrate Mrs Judith Taruvinga charged with fraud, Mavhunga was remanded out of custody on $1 000 bail under strict conditions. As part of his bail conditions, he was ordered to surrender his passport and report once a week to the police station.Prosecutor Mr Tatenda Mukatera told the court that Emmerson Jr met Mavhunga sometime in May last year.

Mavhunga is said to have indicated that he specialised in making and supplying wedding suits. Emmerson Jr then expressed interest since he was preparing for his wedding, which was scheduled for August 25 of the same year.Emmerson Jr then gave Mavhunga an order to supply five bridegroom’s suits which he was supposed to order from Italy. However, it later came to light that the accused had lied that he had the capacity to supply the said suits, forcing the complainant to file a police report.

Cases of fraud and theft have been on the increase of late. Not jobless people have been resorting to more sophisticated tactics of stealing from unsuspecting clients