BCC pair in court over $171k fraud

Thandeka Moyo Court Reporter
TWO Bulawayo City Council workers took bribes from residents to clear their water bills, a court heard yesterday. Violah Sibindi, 36, of Magwegwe West suburb and Travor Gohori, 37, of Makokoba, illegally wrote off bills worth $171,703 over a 12-month period, Bulawayo magistrate Tawanda Mthethwa was told.

Sibindi, a senior clerk, and Gohori, her assistant, entered not guilty pleas to fraud charges as they were released on $100 bail.
Their trial is set to begin on September 9.

Prosecutors say between January 2013 and January 2014, at Bulawayo City Council, Sibindi and Gohori unlawfully and with intent to defraud the council, claimed that 50 residents had made payments for their bills.

The two, it is alleged, then worked together and wiped off the residents’ outstanding bills after accepting bribes, prejudicing the BCC of $171,703.