Abel Ndooka
Zvikomborero Parafini
TWO men, who were formerly employed by Paramount Garments, appeared in court over the weekend after the company found out that the duo had allegedly defrauded the firm and stolen material worth over US$200 000.
Tapiwa Peter Mugava and Claymore Takabvirwa are the two men facing accusations of theft.
The court heard that in 2023, Paramount Garments imported fabric material with a total value of US$146 406 from China.
The material was cleared by Freight World Clearing.
The material landed in Zimbabwe in January last year and were taken to Customs Services warehouse at number 67 Coventry Road, Workington, on February 5, for safekeeping.
It is alleged that two days later 7 Mugava contacted Customs Services and advised the company to release the goods to Paramount Garments.
Magava and Takabvirwa, who were both shipping clerks, went to Custom Services and loaded the material under the disguise that they were taking it to their employer.
They loaded the material into two trucks whose registration numbers are AEL 2535 and AFJ 1107.
They sold the material and shared the proceeds between themselves.
On July 22, the operations manager at Paramount Garments went to collect the material and was told that the duo had already collected the material.
The manager made a police report and investigations revealed that the material had been sold to Clemente Situ.
Eleven rolls of fabric, worth US$1364, were recovered.
The total value of the stolen fabric is US$146 406.
In the second count, the court heard that Paramount Garments imported fabric worth US$63 176 from China through Freight World clearing company.
The two allegedly diverted the fabric and offloaded it at Speed Hulk in Willowvale.
The duo allegedly sold some of the fabric material to Makanjera Zisengwe and shared the money between themselves.
The total value stolen is US$63 176 and nothing was recovered. On the third count the duo stole property worth US$$55 000.
Online Reporter
