A 28-year-old man was arraigned before Mutare Magistrates Court for fraudently selling the vehicle owned by his employer without her consent.
Dorcas Mapungwana reported the case after she realized that her accident damaged Honda Fit had been sold to another person by Brendon Tsakatsa whom she had employed as driver.
Tsakatsa now faces criminal charges as defined in Section 136 of the Criminal Law Codification And Reform Act after he sold the vehicle to Tendai Maradi for US$1 500.
The issue came to light after Maradi who had paid the whole amount was dispossessed of the vehicle by Mapungwana who later came on to retrieve her vehicle. This prompted Maradi to report the issue to the authorities resulting in revelations that Tsakatsa was not even the owner of the Honda Fit.
Representing the state, Chris Manyuku told the court was that Tsakatsa in misrepresentation told the buyer that he was the legal owner of the vehicle. The buyer having confidence in Tsakatsa, purchased the vehicle, paying US$1000 first and later settled the remaining US$500.
In giving his defence to the court, Tsakatsa said Mapungwana had given him the car and its log book after it was involved in an accident in Penhalonga that injured four people.
“When Mapungwana left the car and the book in my hands, we had once had a talk and she had given me the car. That’s why I sold it to cover off for the medical expenses of the four injured people. I even called her husband during the transaction. I initially called her thrice but did not answer. I am willing to pay Muradi for his loss and I have already brought the money,” he said.
The magistrate, Mr Xavier Chipato postponed the matter to April 10 for a final ruling.
