Chronicle Editor
Caroline Mutsawu , Sunday News Reporter
POLICE are looking for a man who allegedly defrauded three families in Binga by posing as a legal practitioner.
The man reportedly claimed to have been sent by members of the families who had been arrested.
“Liamon Munsaka (47), Chipo Mabendi (46) and Tracy Mutale from Sikumbu Village under Chief Siabuwa in Binga were defrauded by a man who introduced himself as a lawyer appointed by their sons who are remanded at Binga prisons facing murder charges,” Matabeleland North police spokesperson Inspector Glory Banda said.
Police said the accused person introduced himself as a lawyer at Munsaka’s homestead on 2 January. He misrepresented himself and informed Munsaka that he had been sent by his son who was facing murder charges at Binga prison and thus needed money for bail. Munsaka gave him US$300 and a grinding mill at the value of US$1 080.
“On the same day, the accused person proceeded to Mabendi’s homestead and informed her that her son had sent him to collect bail money which he said was US$350. Mabendi gave the alleged lawyer US$300. She also gave him US$30 to give to his son in prison.
The accused person proceeded to Mutale’s homestead where he used the same modus operandi.
He was given US$300. From every homestead, he also collected clothes for their jailed family members.
Police said Munsaka’s wife received a call two weeks after the alleged lawyer’s visit informing her to come and visit her son at Binga prison.
She visited and saw her son and the other two who denied sending a lawyer and knowing the alleged lawyer, thus leading to the families filing a police report.
The value of goods and money defrauded amounted to US$1 820.
“We appeal to members of the public to verify before giving anyone money or valuables. We also appeal to the public for information that may lead to the arrest of the accused person,” said Insp Banda. -@5_Shannico
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Bongani Ndlovu