A liberation war veteran from Mutare has been charged with fraud after assisting a late war veterans daughter get her father’s pension before stealing the US$2 700 deposit from her Cabs account.

Echbel Mudadirwa (62) of 2290 Chikanga 2, Mutare denied the charges when he appeared before magistrate Prisca Manhibi.

He was remanded to March 14 for continuation of trial.

Prosecuting, Nyasha Mukonyora told the court that Mudadirwa who is employed as a war veterans officer based at the District Administrator, Mutare stole the late Washington Matunha’s US$2 707 pension on June 5, 2015.

Mudadirwa facilitated its pay out at the request of Matunha’s 26 year old daughter.

Mudadirwa had from the beginning asked the late fellow war veteran’s family to give him US$30 for transport so that he travels to Harare when he was engaged back in 2013.

Two years later he informed the daughter that everything was in place and the pension was ready.

He then asked the young lady to give him her Cabs bank card and pin number.

Mudadirwa upon noticing that the money had been deposited withdrew the entire pension for his personal use.

Sometime in July 2015 she then approached Mudadirwa requesting to have her bank card back but was received with threats. 

On June 3, 2016 she requested a bank statement for her account upon which she realised that US$2 707 had been deposited from the pensions office and withdrawn on June 5, 2015.

She made a police report leading to the arrest of the war veterans leader.
The state notes that the lady is not well equipped with the knowledge of bank cards, hence the advantage used by the accused to steal her money. 

-263Chat