HARARE – A Chinese businessman was on Thursday arraigned before a Harare magistrate accused of defrauding his partner of over US$400,000 in a botched mining deal.

Liu Guorong appeared before magistrate Tilda Mazhande who granted him US$1,000 bail.

He was remanded to March 10 for his routine remand.

According to court papers, on March 2, 2024, the complainant, Wang Jinghai, was in China when he was introduced to Liu by one Chen Neng Zhi.

He was told that Liu was marketing investment opportunities in Zimbabwe during an ongoing seminar.

It is alleged that Liu attended the seminar and presented various business opportunities, particularly in the mining sector.

“Accused further indicated that he is well connected to senior government officials in Zimbabwe such that it won’t take long for one to own or purchase a mining claim,” the State alleges.

Acting on this misrepresentation, the court was further told, on March 29, 2024, the complainant asked his partner, Li Muxin, who was already in Zimbabwe, to investigate the business opportunities at Liu’s suggestion.

His friend was then shown a mining claim referred to as Gwayi River Mine in Hwange by Liu.

Liu was in the company of one Nyasha, still at large, and a pegger allegedly employed by the Ministry of Mines, responsible for processing a certificate in the complainant’s name, the State alleges.

The court heard that the mine had three existing shafts and was purported to have significant copper deposits.

According to the allegations, Wang arrived in Zimbabwe on May 28, 2024 to facilitate the acquisition of the mine.

“Accused and his accomplice took the complainant and his friend Li to Gwayi River Mine so that they could show him pegs and coordinates of the claim where the complainant was supposed to buy a claim.

“After having been shown the pegs and coordinates of the claim, the complainant got interested in acquiring the mine. On the same date, the complainant went on to transfer a total amount of RMB3,099,639 Chinese Yuan, but at different intervals, into the accused’s bank in China, with the funds amounting to US$444,000. After making the transfers, the complainant advised the accused who acknowledged receipt of funds,” the State alleges further.

The court heard that the complainant made several follow-ups on the required papers for the new mine but the accused kept on giving excuses until he was no longer reachable.

It is further alleged that the complainant then decided to visit the mine site and he realised that there were some developments which were taking place with a security fence already erected.

Following that development, Wang made a police report which led to the accused’s arrest.