A liberation war veteran from Mutare has been charged with fraud after assisting his late colleague’s daughter get her father’s pension before stealing the US$2 700 deposit from her.
By Tapera Gwezhira
Echbel Mudadirwa (62) of 2290 Chikanga 2, Mutare denied the charges when he appeared before Magistrate Prisca Manhibi and 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 Mutare District Administrator 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.
According to the state, Mudadirwa had at the beginning demanded US$30 for transport to travel 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, before asking 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, her colleague’s daughter 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a bank statement for her account upon which she realized that US$2 707 had been deposited from the pensions office and withdrawn on June 5, 2015.
She made a police report leading to Mudadirwa’s arrest.
