A 42-year-old Gumford Automotive (Pvt) Ltd employee yesterday appeared in court for converting to own use $110 000 he was given to purchase a bus by Parachute Battalion Primary School.
Samson Madzonga was facing theft of trust property charges when he appeared before magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe. He was granted $200 bail.
As part of his bail conditions, he was ordered not to interfere with witnesses and to stay at his given address. It alleged that sometime in September 2013, the school and parents agreed to raise funds to purchase a bus. From that period up to September 2015, they raised $110 000.
The court heard that the school sourced quotations from various suppliers and finally settled for Madzonga and his company Gumford Automotive (Pvt) Ltd.
It is alleged that the school entered into an agreement with Madzonga and his company in 2015 to the effect that they were going to import a 63-seater Yutong bus from China on behalf of the school for $110 000.
It is alleged that the company pledged that the bus was going to be delivered to the school by end of December 2015. The court heard that the school transferred $110 000 from its CBZ Bank account into the company’s account and Madzonga acknowledged receipt of the money to the school.
It is alleged that from January 2016 to June 2016, the school representative went to Madzonga’s office several times inquiring about the delivery of the bus but were given empty promises.
This prompted the school to file a report with the police against Madzonga and his company.
The court heard that Madzonga and his company converted the money to their own use and nothing was recovered.-state medoa