Kwekwe businessman convicted of defrauding Bola Hardware of US$38 000
Harare- A Kwekwe based businessman, James Paradza, has been convicted of theft of trust property after defrauding Bola Hardware City of cellphones and accessories worth US$38 000.
The verdict followed a full trial before Harare Magistrate Lissah Mutendereki.
Magistrate Mutendereki initially sentenced Paradza to 36 months in prison.
However, 18 months were suspended on condition of good behavior.
The remaining 18 months were suspended on condition that Paradza restitutes Bola Hardware City the full amount of US$38 500 by April 25, 2025.
Failure to pay will result in Paradza serving the 18-month prison term.
The complainant in the matter is Glidewell Investments (Pvt) Ltd, trading as Bola Hardware City.
The company specialises in wholesale hardware, stationery, and electrical gadgets, including cellphones and accessories.
It was represented in court by its Security Manager, Mr Amon Shumba.
Paradza, the proprietor of Mambo Cellular Networks, a business located at 04 Freecam Building, Mandela Way, Kwekwe, had a longstanding business relationship with Bola Hardware City.
According to Prosecutor Takudzwa Jamabawu, the two parties had been conducting business for a considerable time in the cellphone trading industry. Initially, Paradza purchased cellphones and accessories from Bola on a cash wholesale basis.
As their relationship grew, trust developed between the two parties. This trust led to an arrangement where Bola Hardware City would supply Paradza with cellphones on credit. Paradza was expected to sell the phones and later remit the proceeds to Bola Hardware City.
Between October 2022 and July 2024, Bola Hardware City advanced Paradza 300 TECNO Spark 20 cellphones on two separate occasions under the same agreement.
Paradza was required to remit the cost price of the phones to Bola after selling them.
However, Paradza breached the terms of the agreement.
He sold the cellphones and converted a significant portion of the proceeds to his own use, instead of remitting the funds as agreed.
As a result of Paradza’s actions, Bola Hardware City suffered an actual financial loss of US$42 558.
Only US$4 000 of the stolen amount was recovered.
