NetOne losses $84 900 airtime

Published: 10 June 2013

NetOne Cellular (Private) Limited lost thousands of dollars to its customer care service officer who allegedly converted US$84 900 worth of airtime to his own use.

Reuben Langton Mujuru (29) was a salesman when he allegedly committed the offence.

In a bid to cover up the offence, it is alleged Mujuru approached two representatives of the company's dealers and persuaded them to sign fictitious acknowledgment of debt forms purporting that each dealer owed NetOne US$42 500.

Mujuru yesterday appeared before Mr Donald Ndirowei charged with theft of trust property.

He was remanded to June 18 on US$500 bail coupled with stringent conditions.

As part of his bail conditions, Mujuru was ordered to report thrice a week at CID Serious Frauds, to surrender his passport and not to interfere with witnesses. According to the State, Mujuru's duties included keeping and distributing recharge cards to dealers on cash and credit basis.

Prosecutor Mr Tungamirai Chakurira alleged that some time last year on different occasions, Mujuru stole recharge cards worth US$84 900.

It is alleged after committing the offence, Mujuru approached Roy Howera of Message Centre (Pvt) Ltd and Kudzanai Knowles of Engineering World (Pvt) Ltd.

It is the State's case that Mujuru told Knowles and Howera that external auditors were visiting his company yet his stock was not balancing before pleading for help from them.

He allegedly persuaded each one of them to sign a fictitious acknowledgment of debt to purport that the Message Centre owed NetOne US$42 500 while Engineering World owed US$42 400.

Mujuru, the court heard, filed the fictitious documents in the company's files. The offence came to light in February this year when the company's credit controller, Blanthina Gwatura, approached Message Centre and Engineering World in a bid to recover the debt. Knowles and Howera unearthed the scam leading to Mujuru's arrest.

According to the State, Mujuru was still holding on to questionable acknowledgment of debt forms which were yet to be verified with the signatories.
- herald