A BULAWAYO businessman, who is facing charges of defrauding an unsuspecting land seeker of US$1,4 million in a botched property deal, is in deep trouble after it emerged that he allegedly swindled more victims to bring his ill-gotten gains to close to US$2 million after managing to win their trust.
Ismail Moosa Lunat, who is being tried in Harare and is out on $5 000 bail, allegedly sold the land that he had already sold to someone else three years ago for US$1,4 million to Mr Mohamed Patel, a Bulawayo businessman.
According to the documents signed, Lunat stated that he was selling the property on behalf of one of his companies called Converging Investments (Pvt) Limited. It is alleged that Lunat showed Mr Patel an original copy of the title deeds and CR14 Forms before the agreement was signed. Upon signing the agreement, Mr Patel made a down payment of US$1 million.
Lunat allegedly advised Mr Patel that he must settle the balance of US$400 000 on or before 15 December 2018. Mr Patel paid the balance on 14 December 2018 before being given the original copy of the title deeds to the property. A follow-up with the Registrar of Deeds revealed that the property was in fact, registered in the name of Mr Timothy Mafuka Nkomo. Mr Nkomo had purchased the said property from Lunat in 2015.
The State’s case against Lunat, also a bookkeeper and accountant, seems to be the tip of the iceberg as investigations revealed an alleged scam that goes beyond Bulawayo. He is alleged to have struck a number of business deals with various businessmen, but failed to honour his obligations after receiving payment.
In a matter not related to the court case, Lunat was some time last year allegedly given a loan of US$384 177 by the same Mr Patel. Lunat was also made to sign an acknowledgement of debt document but Mr Patel has not received a dime of that money back. The matter is at the Bulawayo High Court. Contacted for comment Mr Patel refused to comment.
“Where did you get that information? Sorry I am not comfortable discussing matters that are now in the hands of the courts. I am a private citizen and I expect your newspaper to treat me as such,” said Mr Patel before abruptly cutting his phone.
Mr Adam Horton, a Harare businessman, allegedly lost US$390 400 to Lunat. Lunat was arrested and detained at Harare Central Police Station some time in November 2018. He was made to sign an affidavit acknowledging the debt. To this day he has not paid a cent to Mr Horton.
Documents that this paper has in possession show that Lunat had undertaken to pay back “on or before the 14th of January 2019, the sum of US$390 400 in full and final payment of the dispute between the parties.”
The agreement of payment of debt was crafted by Venturas and Samukange Legal Practitioners and it refers to Mr Horton as “Adam” and Lunat as “Ismail”. The written agreement goes on to state that the amount was to be deposited into Mr Horton’s lawyers account (account name and account number supplied).
The agreed settlement saw Mr Horton withdrawing his “pending criminal complaint against Lunat. Mr Horton also agreed not to “make any further criminal complaint against Lunat arising from the transaction and dispute between the two parties”.
But to this day Mr Horton has not been paid back his money. Mr Horton confirmed that Lunat owes him US$390 400.
“Where did you get that information? You want to put my name in the newspaper without my permission, you don’t have my permission. Anyway I know he owes a lot of people money including myself. But I don’t know where and how you got that information,” Mr Horton said.
A Mr Vikash from KDV Bedding was allegedly made US$116 765 poorer after he struck a deal with Lunat. Mr Vikash’s botched deal was allegedly brokered and guaranteed by a Mr Hitesh ‘‘Hitler’’ Patel.
However, Mr Hitesh Patel vehemently dismissed the allegations that he acted as a broker despite the fact that he acted as a witness to the agreement.
“I am not involved in that and I have nothing to do with that. I am not involved in any way,” he said.
Lunat had made an undertaking to pay US$10 000 a month, starting in January 2019, until the whole amount was paid off. Mr Vikash has not received any payment despite Lunat acknowledging in an affidavit dated 11 December 2018 that he owes Mr Vikash US$116 765.
Mr Vikash was not as forthcoming as he did not entertain questions when asked if Lunat had swindled him.
“He did not,” said Mr Vikash, before he abruptly hung up his phone. Attempts to get in touch with him again proved fruitless as he did not answer calls.
Some of the cases mentioned above were reported to the police in Harare under the criminal investigation department’s commercial crimes division.
Contacted for comment last Wednesday Lunat said, “Can I have your number and I will get back to you with a comment.” However, he did not call or respond to WhatsApp messages. He has not been answering this reporter’s calls ever since.
On Thursday a shady character called with an offer of a bribe so that the story is not published, but this reporter flatly turned it down.