A Stanbic Bank chief teller who allegedly stole $164 000 from a cash vault was yesterday freed on $1 000 bail.

Aaron Rashama (45) of New Bluffhill in Harare appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe facing fraud charges.

As part of his bail conditions, Mr Mahwe ordered Rashama to surrender his passport, report every Friday to CID Serious Fraud and to reside at his given address.

The court heard that Rashama was based at Stanbic Bank at the intersection of Sam Nujoma Street and Julius Nyerere Way.

He was in charge of the cash vault and his duties included “cashing and deposits”, vault custody, foreign exchange and query resolution, among others.

Prosecuting, Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa alleged that on January 18 this year, Rashama received and signed for $245 060 and $14 173, 75 vault and canister cash respectively.

The court heard that the money reflected in Rashama’s cash register and the bank’s computer system.

He worked as usual until May 24, when he reported for work, but left immediately without the branch manager’s permission.

On realising that Rashama had taken too long to return, the branch manager, Ms Joyce Mhlanga, phoned him on his mobile phone, but the phone went unanswered and was later on switched off.

Ms Mhlanga notified the head of financial crime control, Mr Continue Mudekwa, and the investigations manager, Mr Stanley Shaninga.

The pair visited the branch and noticed that Rashama had not yet returned and had also taken with him keys to the vault and canister.

Ms Mhlanga was instructed to take spare keys and the vault and canister were opened.

It was discovered that $4 252 was in the vault instead of $154 560 reflecting in the cash register.

In the canister there was $3 323 instead of $20 404 also reflecting in the cash register.

It is alleged that the sealed bundles Rashama was keeping in the vault were made up of $1 instead of $100, $50 and $20 notes.

Noticing the discrepancies, the bank reported the matter to police on Africa Day.

The bank lost $164 389 and nothing was recovered.Fungai Lupande Court Reporter