Fraud accused Zanu PF Mashonaland East Secretary of Finance, Timothy Gowo (37) and four others appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Court on Monday facing charges of defrauding a property developer out of more than USD 4 million in a fraudulent land deal that has left the victim without his money and his property.
Gerald Saidi (39), a lawyer, and Lovejoy Mujali (35), Nigel Chimbwanda (39), Nathan Gowoko (33) are alleged to have conspired to defraud property developer Andrew Sean Baker through bogus land transactions between 2022 and 2024.
According to court documents, in 2022, the accused persons allegedly offered Baker a vacant stand in Harare’s Kuwadzana suburb for a staggering USD 1.7 million.
Convinced by the offer, Baker paid the full amount through Saidi’s law firm between May and October of that year. In addition to the purchase price, he also paid USD 51,000 for Capital Gains Tax and another USD 65,000 in transfer fees.
However, Baker’s attempts to develop the land in 2024 were thwarted when local residents stopped him, claiming ownership of the land.
Investigations revealed that the documents and receipts he had been given by the accused were fake, and the land was not available for sale. The total loss in the Kuwadzana deal stood at USD 1.816 million, with no recovery of funds.
In a second alleged scam, the accused persons reportedly offered Baker another piece of land in the affluent Marlborough area for USD 2 million in early 2023. Baker once again paid the full amount between January and June, including USD 100,000 in Capital Gains Tax and USD 78,800 in transfer fees.
However, his ownership was called into question in July 2024, when a criminal trespass report was filed against him for unlawfully entering the Marlborough property. This time, Baker had been defrauded of USD 2.178 million, with nothing recovered.
In addition to the fraudulent land deals, the accused allegedly manipulated Baker into purchasing a Toyota Land Cruiser for USD 100,000, claiming it was a donation to a charity organization.
The vehicle was later found at a car dealership where it had been put up for sale. Fortunately, the full value of the Land Cruiser was recovered, according to prosecutors.
The five men have been denied bail and are expected to return to court on 27 August 2024.
They are facing charges of fraud, with the total value of money defrauded from Baker amounting to USD 4.094 million.
