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Senior Court Reporter
A 23-year-old man, who was masquerading as an official from the passport office in Harare, appeared in court on Wednesday over duping a passport applicant of US$230 after claiming he could assist the person acquire the travel document.
Nyasha Chihombori was not asked to plead to the fraud charges when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Yeukai Dzuda.
Miss Caroline Mutimusakwa alleges that on March 21 at around 9am, Farisai Chivivite was at Makombe passport office where he intended to apply for a passport.
Chivivite was in the company of his niece, Tsitsi Chinongwenya, who was known to Chihombori from school.
Chihombori then made Chivivite to believe that he was an employee working at the passport office.
The court heard that Chihombori further misrepresented to Chivivite that he was an employee of the passport office and was able to facilitate the processing of the passport application.
Chivivite paid US$230 but Chihombori disappeared after receiving the money.
That is when he realised that he had been duped.
Chihombori was later spotted in Harare’s City Centre and later taken to Harare Central Police where a police report was made.
It was later proved that he was not an employee of the Registrar General’s office.
Chihombori is expected to be back in court on April 4 for routine remand.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter