US$5,500 Gone: Employee Found At Betting Shop After Family Search
A trusted employee who was allegedly tasked with collecting money on behalf of his employer is now before the courts after allegedly gambling away US$5,500 (approximately R99,000) at a betting shop in Harare. The case took an unexpected twist when worried relatives reportedly tracked him down at a sports betting outlet in Mabvuku, where only a fraction of the missing money was allegedly recovered.
Trailer Sale Cash Allegedly Ends Up At Mabvuku Betting Shop
H-Metro reports that Kelvin Menyani (26), an employee at a local car sales firm, appeared before Harare magistrate Ruth Moyo facing a charge of theft of trust property.
According to allegations presented in court, Menyani’s employer, Efiat Kodoya, sold a trailer for US$7,100 (approximately R128,000) while he was outside Zimbabwe.
Kodoya allegedly instructed Menyani to collect the money from the buyer on his behalf.
The State told the court that Menyani was expected to deliver US$7,000 (approximately R126,000) to Kodoya’s wife in Newlands and keep US$100 (approximately R1,800) as a reward for facilitating the transaction.
Prosecutors alleged:
“The accused was directed to deliver US$7,000 to the complainant’s wife and retain US$100 as a reward for facilitating the transaction.”
However, the State alleges that after receiving the money, Menyani failed to hand over the funds as instructed.
Employer Raises Alarm As Employee Allegedly Goes Silent
Court papers indicate that Kodoya only became aware that something was wrong after contacting his wife and learning that the money had not been delivered.
The employer allegedly attempted to contact Menyani, but prosecutors claim he became evasive.
According to allegations before the court, Kodoya later contacted Menyani’s father and informed him about the missing funds.
The search for the missing employee reportedly ended in Mabvuku.
Prosecutors alleged:
“Family members later located the accused betting at MWOS Mabvuku.”
The discovery reportedly came days after the money had been collected from the buyer.
Only Part Of Missing Money Recovered
The State alleges that when Menyani was located, only US$1,500 (approximately R27,000) remained from the money he had collected.
Prosecutors told the court:
“Only US$1,500 was recovered.”
The matter was subsequently reported to the police, leading to Menyani’s arrest.
He was brought before the Harare Magistrates’ Court but was not asked to plead. The allegations remain before the courts and have yet to be tested.
What allegedly began as a routine collection of trailer sale proceeds has now become a criminal case involving thousands of dollars. Court proceedings are expected to continue as investigators seek to establish the full circumstances surrounding the missing funds.
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