Ishmael Duwa Austin, who is famously known as the “Marcus Rashford lookalike”, has been dragged to court for allegedly duping a police officer of more than $13 000 in a botched car deal.
Austin is a car salesman from Chitungwiza whose pictures went viral globally after some people mistook him for English Premier League football club Manchester United star Marcus Rashford.
He appeared before a Harare magistrate Learnmore Mapiye facing fraud charges after he reportedly defrauded Tinotenda Chitenga, a police officer stationed at ZRP Support Unit.
State prosecutors said that sometime in June 2018, Chitenga visited Seke Flyover Car Sale and met Austin, intending to buy a Honda Fit.
Austin allegedly misrepresented to him that there was a car auction at Zimra Beitbridge and assured Chitenga that he could assist him in buying and delivering the car within two days after payment.
Chitenga assented to the deal and went on to deposit $13 845 for Austin through a mobile money platform.
The car was never delivered. Austin was not asked to plead and was remanded out of custody on $200 bail.
This is the second time Austin has appeared in court facing charges related to botched car deals.