Avenues Clinic accounts clerk up for theft

To conceal the theft, the accused entered US$53 on the duplicate copy, which is retained by the company.

AN accounts clerk at Avenues Clinic appeared before a Harare magistrate facing theft of trust property charges after allegedly receiving cash from patients and converting it to personal use.

Neville Tashinga Denhere (28), who is a cashier, appeared before Magistrate Dennis Mangosi on Friday and was remanded in custody to today for bail application consideration.

The complainant is Medical Investment Limited t/a The Avenues Clinic being represented by its loss control officer Tapera Majuru.

It is the State’s case that on April 12, this year, the accused received a booking fee of US$83 from a patient and correctly accounted for the money by receipting the correct amount on the Avenues Clinic receipt No 049530 (customer copy).

Denhere then allegedly helped himself to US$30 from the money which he had received from the patient.

To conceal the theft, the accused entered US$53 on the duplicate copy, which is retained by the company.

He also entered the incorrect amount in the timed computer system.

It is alleged that on July 13, the patient went to the Avenues Clinic debtors department with receipt (number 049530) to claim a refund of US$83 after he had sought similar medical services from another service provider.

The supervisor in the department then discovered that the amount which the client was claiming was different from the amount in the system and requested an original receipt from the accused.

When the accused learnt that the patient had come to claim a refund, he altered the duplicate receipt to read US$83 and also altered the system record by depositing US$30 and printed a new receipt which was showing the correct refund of US$83.

The US$30 was recovered.

It is further alleged that on July 14, the accused received US$1 350 cash from patients.

The amount was for doctor’s fees for doctors Maunganidze (US$250), Matinhira (US$100), Chisada (US$250) and Professor Ndlovu (US$250).

The accused then stole US$850 of the doctor’s fees. Finance manager Alice Gurira conducted a spot check on the accused and found out that he had a shortfall of US$850.

The amount which the accused stole is US$850 and nothing was recovered.

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