Another cop accused of stealing 69 receipt books

allegedly stealing 69 official receipt books and issuing tickets at roadblocks without remitting money paid as fines to the State.
Cuthbert Matope, a sergeant in the police force, was yesterday arraigned before Marondera magistrate Mr Tafadzwa Muvhami.
Matope’s arrest comes shortly after Sergeant John Magwesere (30) appeared in court facing charges of stealing 35 ticket books.
Magwesere was on Monday granted US$50 bail.
However, prosecutor Ms Molyn Mtamangira-Mavhondo invoked Section 121 of the Criminal Procedures and Evidence Act.
Prosecutor Ms Rangarirai Gurupira told the courts that between May 5, 2009 and August 26 last year, Matope received 65 Z 69 (j) deposit fine books from Harare Police Printers that he did not record in the station general records book.
Matope was supposed to record the books before they are used.
He was also expected to register them in the occurrence register book at the station when they are issued out.
The deposit fines paid by offending motorists would be deposited through the Marondera magistrates’ courts.
Ms Gurupira said Matope allegedly converted the books to his own use, thereby causing loss and potential prejudice to the State at the maximum fine deposited at any police station per every copy of the book he took.
She said copies of the issue vouchers and copies of the printers’ master register confirming that Matope took the 69 books were recovered.
A few dockets closed by police on the strength of the stolen Z 69 (j) copies, she said, were also recovered and the dockets are being held by police.
Weekly operation returns by Marondera Central Police bearing serial numbers of the stolen books were also recovered.
Matope’s lawyer Mr Musindo Hungwe of Hungwe and Chinyama successfully applied for bail which was pegged at US$120.
Ms Gurupira however, also invoked Section 121 of the Criminal Procedures and Evidence Act, which means that Matope remains in custody.
The State argued that Matope was likely to abscond because of the gravity of the offence.
The remaining administrators, she said, who are State witnesses in the case are Matope’s juniors who take instructions from him and he was likely to interfere with investigations.
Ms Gurupira further argued that the stolen 69 books were yet to be recovered.
The relevant books where such items are booked are also yet to be recovered as well as Z4 Forms.
It was the State’s contention that the accused could still use the stolen books, as he was still a serving member of the force.
He could continue making people pay unaccountable fines.
Mr Muvhami then remanded Matope in custody to Friday this week.
He also advised Matope to apply for bail at the High Court.