Fraudster jailed for four years

Published: 2014 January 10 11:02:39 (6002 Views)

CONVICTED Rusape 29-year-old fraudster, Blessing Sibanda, was on Monday jailed for four years on four counts of fraud involving different women who confessed being in love with him. Sibanda ensnared the women - mostly unsuspecting female teachers and businesswomen - into falling in love with him before defrauding them.

Rusape provincial magistrate Mr Shingi Mutiro descended hard on him with a 48 months' jail term, of which eight months were suspended on usual conditions.

Mr Mutiro further annulled another 10 months on condition that Sibanda restitutes all the four complainants their full amounts by February 28, 2014.

Sibanda, who was represented by Mr Leonard Chigadza, of Chigadza and Associates Legal Practitioners, was denying the charges, but was convicted after a full trial.

This was after the State, led by Mr James Wirima, of the National Prosecuting Authority, proved beyond doubt that Sibanda was a fraudster.

In passing the sentence, Mr Mutiro said the offences were "premeditated and well planed" such that the perpetrator must be incarcerated.

He said the fact that Sibanda used different names like Blessing Munetsi, Blessing Sithole, Godfrey Goneso, Godfrey Muzenda, Morgan Sithole and Blessing Nerutanga — when approaching his targets, showed that he was a cunning criminal intending to deprive his targets permanently.

"You took advantage of women desperate for love and lied to them that you would assist them start their own business, yet your intention was to defraud them.

"Only a custodial sentence of 48 months will make you realise that crime does not pay. You must not be allowed to enjoy the fruits of theft," ruled Mr Mutiro, in a verdict that shocked a packed gallery.

It was the State case led by Mr Wirima that Sibanda was staying at NE 269, in Vengere, Rusape, where he was co-habiting with a sugar mummy, was a fraudster.

Mr Wirima called four complainants - Patricia Muronga (33), Cathrine Gombedza (40), Beauty Mudzingwa (40) and Melody Marima as witnesses.
They all admitted being in love with him and having been defrauded of various amounts of money.

Mr Wirima told the court that Sibanda defrauded the complainants after falling in love with them.

He them made them believe he wanted to help them start income-generating projects.

Sibanda swindled $1 000 from Cecelia Muronga, a female teacher at a school on the outskirts of Rusape.

He was given the money on the understanding that he buys some male suits in Tanzania for resale.

On receiving the money, Sibanda vanished and stopped picking her calls.

An attempt to swindle Cathrine Gombedza, a female teacher at Zambara School in Headlands, backfired, as it led to his arrest.

Sibanda was arrested by CID details following a tip-off that he was set to receive $600 from Gombedza. He also conned Mudzingwa, $400 and R1 000.

He swindled Marima of $400.

When police searched his Mercedes-Benz (ACJ 7413), they discovered two more passports for Muchaneta Hilda Chigande, and Fenny Machingura, who are suspected to be among his victims.

- Manicapost