Harare — A HARARE magistrates' court will today decide on whether it is prudent to grant bail to two men charged with fraud involving US$100 000 after the pair allegedly sold a Borrowdale stand that did not belong to them.

Moses Chikwata (39) and Peter Shuro (30) were not asked to plead to fraud charges when they appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Archie Wochiunga, who remanded them in custody to consider their application for bail.

The State, led by Mr Bruce Tokwe, opposed bail arguing that the pair was facing a very serious offence which if convicted attracts a lengthy prison term.

Mr Tokwe also urged the court to take into account the likelihood to absconding trial by the duo if granted bail.

The State, Mr Tokwe said, also needed time to verify if the two have pending cases in the courts.

It is the State's case that the two placed an advert through an estate agency, Property World, that Stand Number 221 Folyjon Crescent in Borrowdale was for sale.

An unsuspecting couple, Mr Darlington Jingura and Mary Jingura, showed interest in the property and was made to pay US$50 000 through Msipa and Partners law firm.

The State alleged that the men knew that the stand belonged to one Hazvineyi Kapfunde, who never advertised that the property was on sale. Due to misrepresentations by Shuro and Chikwata the complainants would suffer a potential prejudice of US$100 000 if Jingura had succeeded in transferring the stand into his name.