CMED official acquitted

News
GWERU’S Central Mechanical Engineering Department (CMED) area accountant was yesterday acquitted on allegations of defrauding the company of about $50 000 meant to be paid to owners of vehicles that were hired by the government during last year’s referendum and harmonised elections.

GWERU’S Central Mechanical Engineering Department (CMED) area accountant was yesterday acquitted on allegations of defrauding the company of about $50 000 meant to be paid to owners of vehicles that were hired by the government during last year’s referendum and harmonised elections. STEPHEN CHADENGA OWN CORRESPONDENT

Patrick Nyengera (39) of 20967 Unit A Extension, Seke in Chitungwiza, appeared before Gweru magistrate Sithembiso Ncube in September this year facing nine counts of fraud.

Ncube ruled that an audit report produced by the State as evidence failed to link Nyengera with the alleged crime, before acquitting him on all the nine counts.

The State had alleged that between April and August last year, Nyengera defrauded CMED of close to $50 000 after he was entrusted with the cash that was disbursed by the government for the payment of clients whose vehicles were hired during last year’s referendum and harmonised elections.

The State further alleged that on April 11 last year, the CMED head office deposited $146 798 into CMED Gweru’s CBZ Bank account for payment of vehicles hired for the referendum.

Nyengera made three separate withdrawals of $15 000 on April 17, $67 000 five days later and $30 000 the following day.

The court heard that Nyengera disbursed $99 949 before misappropriating the remaining $12 050.

On August 21 last year, it is alleged Nyengera received $100 000 from CMED human resources officer, Vitalis Maziriri meant for individuals whose vehicles were hired during the harmonised elections.

The court heard that on August 26, Nyengera withdrew $128 000 from the CMED Gweru bank account and disbursed $111 841, but withheld $14 960, which he allegedly converted to personal use.

The State alleged that Nyengera used the same method to defraud CMED on eight other occasions but an audit revealed the anomalies, leading to his arrest.