MIDWEEK REPORTER
MASVINGO-Zanu PF politician and businessman, James Pande has dismissed claims by an Australian national that he kidnapped, assaulted and forced him to sign an acknowledgement of US$500 000 debt form.
The Australian national, Hayden Peter Warszewski, reported Pande to Gweru police under case number CR: 98/02/26 for kidnapping, assault and extortion.
“I handed myself to the investigating officer after Peter reported me to the police and upon investigations, it came out that he is the one who defrauded me. Peter claimed that he had antimony mines in Mberengwa and Kwekwe and we paid for the mineral which he failed to deliver.
“We are not the only people whom he duped, there are many others and very soon he will face the full wrath of the law, I have all the evidence of the payment that we made to him after believing his claims,” fumed Pande.
Pande said they are going to expose him and he is on the run for duping many businesspeople after claiming to have mines for special minerals in Mberengwa and Kwekwe.
Pande alleges that despite repeated assurances, Warszewski did not supply any of the minerals. Instead, he is said to have travelled extensively, including trips to Thailand, while spending large sums of money.
“He claimed he could produce up to 5,000 tonnes of antimony per week, but months passed without any delivery,” said Pande.
Warszewski had been staying at Antelope Park in Gweru before being located by Pande and his associates.
Following his discovery, Warszewski allegedly signed an acknowledgement of debt and agreed to repay the US$500,000 within seven days.
Instead he went on to report Pande for extortion and assault and a warrant of arrest was issued against him in February but he handed himself over and it was cancelled following investigations.
