by Chris Matambanadzo
A 17-year-old boy from Zimre Park, Ruwa, Zimbabwe, has found himself in legal trouble after allegedly defrauding hundreds of dollars from high school students in a scam that echoes the notorious fraud schemes of Frank Abagnale Jr. The teenager appeared in court in Harare recently, charged with fraud for swindling students under the pretense of enrolling them in a Junior Parliament program.
The teenager, whose identity has not been revealed due to his age, is accused of pretending to be a representative of the Junior Motivators SADC Parliament program. In July 2024, he allegedly approached students and promised them an opportunity to join the program, charging US$62 for registration and uniforms, as well as an additional US$50 for a camping trip to Domboshava Resort.
However, after collecting the payments from unsuspecting students, the teenager became unresponsive and evasive. This led to the students filing complaints with the police, prompting an investigation. By the time he was arrested, the teenager had swindled a total of US$2,640 from the students. Unfortunately, the police were unable to recover the stolen funds.
The boy was released into the custody of his guardian ahead of his next court appearance, which is scheduled for 5 September 2024. Due to his age, he will be attending court from home instead of being held in remand prison.
In a separate case, 27-year-old Sauro Shezha from Jingxton Plot, Norton, appeared in court facing murder charges. Shezha is accused of fatally stabbing Matanhire Nyikadzino on 20 August 2024, following an altercation. The accused was found in possession of the victim’s phone, and he has been remanded in custody, with his next court date also set for 5 September 2024. Shezha has been advised to apply for bail at the High Court.