A KWEKWE businessman has been convicted of theft of trust property after he defrauded Bola Hardware City of cellphones and accessories worth US$38 500.
The verdict was announced yesterday after a full trial by Harare magistrate Lissah Mutendereki.
She initially sentenced James Paradza to 36 months in prison and suspended 18 months on condition of good behaviour.
The remaining 18 months were suspended on condition that Paradza restitutes Bola Hardware City the full amount of US$38 500 by April 25 this year.
Failure to pay will result in Paradza serving the 18-month prison term.
Bola specialises in wholesale hardware, stationery and electrical gadgets, including cellphones and accessories.
Paradza, who owns Mambo Cellular Networks in Kwekwe, had a longstanding business relationship with Bola Hardware City.
According to prosecutor Takudzwa Jambawu, the two parties had been conducting business for a considerable time in the cellphone trading industry.
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Initially, Paradza bought cellphones and accessories from Bola in cash on 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 settle his debt with 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 arrangement.
Paradza was supposed 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 did not remit the proceeds.
As a result of Paradza’s actions, Bola Hardware City suffered an actual financial loss of US$42 558.
Only US$4 000 was recovered.
