dyton mupawaenda
Crime Reporter
Zimbabwean authorities are keen to recover nearly US$1,3 million that was defrauded from the country’s late former Ambassador to Belgium Hurudza Gift Punungwe and his wife, in an investment scam sometime in 2000.
Ambassador Punungwe and his wife Mrs Runako Beauty Punungwe, were defrauded by the suspect who has been identified as Richard Kaye, a British national, who at that time was operating companies namely Thomas Barclay Group (TBG) and Lloyd Morgan Company (LMC) in Belgium and France.
It is alleged that Kaye, who claimed to be a broker, convinced the late ambassador to invest money amounting to US$214 233 into LMC.
He was allegedly acting in connivance with five other accomplices.
On June 1, 2001, Kaye is alleged to have written to Ambassador Punungwe giving him a personal guarantee of the safety return of the money.
After the death of Ambassador Punungwe, Kaye issued Mrs Punungwe new share certificates in her name.
According to investigations, as at October 28, 2013, the investment in LMC stood at US$739 33,76 and EUR 661 714 07.
In 2009, Mrs Punungwe submitted a request to LMC to redeem her investments but Kaye and his accomplices failed to pay back the funds and interest.
Kaye then posted information on the internet that Lloyd Morgan Limited and Thomas Barclay Limited had been dissolved and that he had become an employee of YAHPE Limited, as a director or commodity broker.
Kaye and his accomplices have residences in England, France and the US.
Preliminary investigations conducted in London revealed that the share certificates issued by the company were fake and that Kaye had misrepresented to the late Ambassador Punungwe.
Mrs Punungwe then approached the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to have Kaye arrested and her investment and earnings recovered.
She also reported the matter to the Zimbabwe Republic Police, who have roped in the International Criminal Police Organisations (Interpol).
Following the report, she also approached the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) which prepared a Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) Requests to the USA since LMC was purported to be operating from New York.
Another request was sent to England, as Kaye had a registered residence in London, with the last request submitted to France because he has a registered residence in France.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America and has the honour to refer to the attached request for Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) in the matter Republic of Zimbabwe vs Thomas Barclay Ltd, Lloyd Morgan Company, Professor David Mc. Kay O.B.E, Richard Kaye, Hendrik Vriesen, Erik Bjertnes Jr, Michiel Eyken-Slyuters, Penny Willis Jones (also known as Penelope Slan Kaye).
“The request was previously submitted in 2015 and relates to criminal conduct of Mr Richard Kaye a British national whose firm Lloyd Morgan Company issued fake share certificates to the late Ambassador Hurudza Gift Punungwe who was Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Belgium (2002-2007),” reads a letter written by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
However, on the Mutual Legal Assistance sought, the NPA wants the matter to be investigated and if necessary, prosecute Kaye.
It also wants the recovery of the funds invested by the Punungwes.
