Man Runs Bogus Pilot, Cabin Crew Training Programme

By Yeukai Karengezeka, Sunday Mail - A HARARE man has been brought to court for allegedly defrauding aspiring aviation students by offering them fictitious access to pilots and cabin crew training.

Ntobeko Chinhoi (29) allegedly misrepresented himself as a genuine aviation trainer, luring students to pay him tuition fees for pilot and cabin crew training opportunities that were nonexistent.

Self-employed Chinhoi was reportedly running an unregistered aviation agency, Royal Chinhoi Aviation, from a 12th-floor cubicle at Joina City in the Harare central business district.

He was charged with fraud when he appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Ruth Moyo. Chinhoi was granted US$100 bail and will reappear in court on May 15.

The case came to light after Mr Leonard Chibamhu, a member of the Zimbabwe Republic Police stationed at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, reported Chinhoi’s activities.

Prosecutor Ms Nomsa Kangara told the court that last year, Chinhoi created a TikTok account under the name Royal Chinhoi Aviation, advertising pilot and cabin crew training programmes in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Poland, and India.

He allegedly utilized the platform to entice students and gave a seminar on April 12 this year at RGM International Airport where he advertised his services.

He charged US$2 per person for those attending the seminar at the Hotplate Airport Restaurant.

At the seminar, Chinhoi was approached by the informant, who questioned the legitimacy of his operations.

When Chinhoi failed to provide evidence of registration or authorisation to conduct such recruitment exercises, he was arrested on the spot. Sunday Mail