The trial of Harare businessman Rodney Dangarembizi who is being accused of money laundering, theft and fraud involving over $1 million dollars failed to kick off after his defence pleaded for more time telling Harare Magistrate Hosea Mujaya that he was writing exams when he received court papers from the state.
Dangarembizi who is represented by Advocate Taona Sibanda is alleged to have diverted a payment of five hundred and eighty thousand ($580 000) for personal use, the money he has failed to reimburse to the investor since last year.
Evidence shows some concocted documents allegedly by Dangarembizi which were forwarded to the investor where he indicated that he had made the payment facilitated through a local bank.
Communication evidence between Dangarembizi and the South African Investor showed the accused admitting to owing the complainant and making commitment to settle the debt which never happened.
Further efforts to recover the amount proved fruitless as Dangarembizi is said to have sent threatening messages to the investor.
The complainant, Goldstone of South Africa is now seeking reprieve through the courts and matter was postponed to June 27 for trial commencement.
Allegations are that sometime in June 2017 Denga engaged Dangarembizi to assisting him to recover 360 metric tonnes of fertilizer from Windmill after the fertilizer manufacturing company had failed make the payment prompting Denga to cancel the transaction.
Dangarembizi managed to get the quantity of fertilizer in question. He then created a mutual friendship with Croplink where he took the fertilizer for for safe keeping under the custody of director Jacques Leitao.
During the same month Dangarembizi approached Denga and volunteered to sale the fertilizer on commission and the arrangement was that after selling the fertilizer, Dangarembizi will deposit the money into Ambrella Holdings FBC bank account.
During period of July 15 to 28 2017, Dangarembizi collected 269,82 metric tonnes of fertilizer and was supposed to remit the sum of $116 762 but converted the money to his own use.
