Chinese Businessman Charged in Zimbabwe Mining Scheme.
A court in Harare heard charges against Lui Bo, who faces fraud claims after a trick gone wrong. The Chinese businessman told a truck company he needed to move chrome. Instead, he packed their truck with lithium ore.
The switch came to light when tax officers stopped the truck at Forbes Border Post. They found lithium inside, not chrome. The truck belonged to Mugwazi Transport Company, run by Richard Mugwazi.
Back in October, Lui asked to rent a truck. He said he wanted to send chrome from Zimbabwe through Beira port to China. He promised all papers were right and paid $750 for the trip.
The truth came out at the border. Officers found lithium quartz where the chrome should have been. When the truck got stuck at the border, Mugwazi tried to reach Lui. But Lui stopped answering calls.
The transport company lost big. The cost of their seized truck, plus other costs, totals $30,000. They have not received any money back yet.
The court set Lui free on $400 bail. He must come back to face the judge on February 7. Police say he broke trust by lying about what was in the truck.
This case shows how some try to sneak minerals out of Zimbabwe. The country watches its borders close, and moving the wrong rocks can cost truckers their vehicles.
A court in Harare heard charges against Lui Bo, who faces fraud claims after a trick gone wrong. The Chinese businessman told a truck company he needed to move chrome. Instead, he packed their truck with lithium ore.
The switch came to light when tax officers stopped the truck at Forbes Border Post. They found lithium inside, not chrome. The truck belonged to Mugwazi Transport Company, run by Richard Mugwazi.
Back in October, Lui asked to rent a truck. He said he wanted to send chrome from Zimbabwe through Beira port to China. He promised all papers were right and paid $750 for the trip.
The truth came out at the border. Officers found lithium quartz where the chrome should have been. When the truck got stuck at the border, Mugwazi tried to reach Lui. But Lui stopped answering calls.
The transport company lost big. The cost of their seized truck, plus other costs, totals $30,000. They have not received any money back yet.
The court set Lui free on $400 bail. He must come back to face the judge on February 7. Police say he broke trust by lying about what was in the truck.
This case shows how some try to sneak minerals out of Zimbabwe. The country watches its borders close, and moving the wrong rocks can cost truckers their vehicles.
