GMB manager in court over fraud

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GMB Bulawayo depot manager Jakubosi Majoni (40) yesterday appeared in court facing charges of prejudicing the company of $14 000.

THE Grain Marketing Board (GMB) Bulawayo depot manager Jakubosi Majoni (40) yesterday appeared in court facing charges of prejudicing the company of $14 000 which he allegedly converted to his personal use.

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Majoni pleaded not guilty to the charges of fraud and was remanded out of custody to December 4 by regional magistrate Chrispen Mberewere.

Allegations against Majoni are that in January 2012 he approached Robert Mandizha, the owner of Mahla Store who was purchasing maize meal for his shop at GMB Belmont depot and borrowed $500 saying it was for his child’s school fees. Mandizha indicated that he did not have money and left the depot.

After a few days, Majoni phoned Mandizha and asked him to buy maize meal using his GMB credit account and give him the money to pay for his child’s fees. Mandizha reportedly agreed.

On January 4 last year, Majoni’s girlfriend Chenesai Murambiwa asked to buy 15 tonnes of maize meal for resale in Mberengwa. Majoni allegedly approved the transaction and asked Murambiwa to pay $6 300, including transport.

Instead of receipting the cash, Majoni allegedly converted it into his personal use and instructed the sales clerk Patience Magara to invoice Mahla Store for the 15 tonnes of maize meal.

In February of the same year, Murambiwa again purchased 20 tonnes of maize meal from Majoni who asked her to pay $8 000. Majoni again converted the money to his own use again instructed Magara to invoice Mahla Store.

Majoni started paying the Mahla Store “debt” in instalments by which time the GMB had suffered a loss of $14 000.