The Chinese dealer based in South Africa who allegedly defrauded Sunny Yi Feng Tiles Company of R2,7 million by buying tiles using fake proofs of payment on three occasions last year was yesterday denied bail.
His trial on fraud charges is expected to start tomorrow morning, with the State leading its first witnesses.
Presiding regional magistrate Mrs Feresi Chakanyuka denied Hu Dong bail on the grounds the State has a strong case against him and there was a high risk he would abscond and not come to trial given that he had no assets in Zimbabwe or fixed place of residence.
Sunny Yi Feng Tiles Company is being represented by its supervisor, Wang Xiang while Hu is being represented by Mr Mellusi Muchada.
The State alleges that on June 17 last year, Hu came to Zimbabwe and lied to the tiles company that he had capacity to buy floor tiles valued at R 1 007 224.
He sent a fake proof of payment purporting that he had transferred R 1 007 224 from his South African Standard Bank account into Sunny Yi Feng’s Ecobank account.
Hu took the tiles and delivered them somewhere unknown in South Africa.
On August 24 last year, Hu used a similar method of operation and he delivered floor tiles worth R649 952 to an unknown destination in South Africa, again sending a fake proof of payment.
On November 28 last year, Hu used the same method and was given tiles worth R1 019 884.
The court heard that on Tuesday last week, Hu went back to Sunny Yi Feng Tiles intending to use similar tactics and ordered some floor tiles that cost US$45 000.
By this time, Sunny Yi Feng Tiles Company had already discovered that Hu had used fake proof of payment for the previous three orders and was on alert.
When Hu was confronted about the lack of payment, he promised to address the issue and was offered accommodation at the company premises.
In a bid to escape from the company premises, Hu tied sheets taken from the first floor of the building where he was accommodated and attempted to escape through the window.
He was arrested by a security guard after a struggle, as he was very aggressive to the security personnel.
Source Zimbabwe Situation
