Businesswoman Hezel Silibaziso Mafu, who is accused of running a vehicle-importation scam , has appeared in court in Bulawayo facing 14 additional fraud charges.
Mafu, the director of Hezy Motors Logistics, allegedly collected more than US$696,652 and ZiG1,313,670.16 from clients who had paid for vehicles they wanted imported from Japan.
She denied all the allegations when she appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Lungile Ncube.
The court granted her US$500 bail and ordered her not to interfere with State witnesses. She was also directed to remain at her stated residential address and report every Friday to the Commercial Crimes Division.
Her Bulawayo trial is scheduled to commence on September 7.
The latest case comes only weeks after Mafu was arrested in Harare, where she is facing a separate 79-count fraud case involving alleged losses of more than US$624,000 and ZiG1.27 million.
Her Harare trial is expected to start on September 2, meaning she will face court proceedings in the two cities within days of each other.
Alleged vehicle-importation scheme
The Bulawayo allegations relate to customers who allegedly paid deposits to Hezy Motors Logistics after being promised that vehicles would be sourced from Japan and delivered to them.
According to the State, the company, which operated from premises at the corner of Fife Street and 11th Avenue, required customers to pay a 50 percent deposit, with the remaining amount due once their vehicles arrived.
Prosecutor Siphiwe Mhlanga told the court that several customers made payments but allegedly never received the vehicles they had ordered or recovered their money.
Among the cases cited was that of a customer who allegedly paid US$3,940 for a vehicle which was never purchased.
Another client allegedly paid US$4,634 and ZiG37,791.81 towards the purchase of a Toyota Vitz valued at US$6,500. The State alleges the vehicle was never acquired and Mafu later became difficult to reach.
In another case, a customer allegedly paid US$8,901 for a Nissan but reportedly failed to receive the vehicle after Mafu allegedly became unreachable.
Other complainants are said to have paid various amounts for Toyota Vitz, Toyota Aqua, Honda Fit and Nissan AD vehicles.
One customer allegedly paid US$2,200 for a Nissan AD van and received a receipt before being asked to wait for the vehicle.
Another allegedly paid US$7,977 for a Toyota Aqua but reportedly failed to recover the money despite making several attempts to contact the company.
A Honda Fit customer allegedly made two payments totalling US$5,608, while another Toyota Aqua buyer is said to have paid US$5,708.
The State also alleges that other customers lost amounts ranging from US$3,200 to US$4,772 in separate transactions.
In one case, a client allegedly paid US$3,000 followed by another US$3,450 towards the purchase of a vehicle costing US$9,000. Prosecutors allege that Mafu subsequently stopped responding to the customer.
Another complainant allegedly paid US$3,800 for a Toyota Aqua after being assured that it would be imported from Japan.
She was allegedly told to return after two weeks but, according to the State, could not find Mafu when she returned.
The complaints were eventually referred to the Commercial Crimes Division, which investigated the allegations and subsequently arrested Mafu.
Harare fraud case
The Bulawayo case adds to the 79 fraud charges Mafu is already facing in Harare.
Prosecutors allege that she used her vehicle-importation business to obtain money from numerous clients for cars that were allegedly not delivered.
The investigation has also resulted in charges against five employees of Hezy Motors.
Earlier this year, the employees appeared in court over allegations that they collected more than US$155,000 from customers for vehicles they allegedly knew could not be supplied. Prosecutors further alleged that the employees were acting on instructions from Mafu, who was reportedly being sought by police at the time.
With separate proceedings now pending in Harare and Bulawayo, scrutiny is likely to intensify around the operations of Hezy Motors Logistics.
However, Mafu has pleaded not guilty to the charges and remains presumed innocent until proven guilty.