Bogus prosecutor jailed for three-and-a-half years

years in jail.

Joana Sibanda approached Gladys Chikore, who had visited her husband at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison where he is serving 20 years, and introduced herself as a public prosecutor.
She then solicited for US$1 900 for her to facilitate the release of Chikore’ s husband from jail.

Sibanda (38) admitted to two charges of fraud and impersonating a public officer when she appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Tsatsawani Ndava.
She was sentenced to five years in prison before suspending six months on condition of good

behaviour. Ms Ndava also set aside 12 months on condition Sibanda restitutes US$1 900 to Chikore before December 31.

This left Sibanda with an effective three and half years to serve in jail.
In mitigation, Sibanda pleaded for the court’s leniency, arguing that she committed the offence out of need.

She told the court that she wanted to pay school fees for her children.
However, prosecutor Ms Patience Chimusaru told the court that Sibanda committed a very serious offence which called for a stiffer penalty.

“Your Worship, the accused person took advantage of the desperate situation of the complainant,” she said.

“She committed the offence out of greed, thereby bringing the name of the Attorney-General’s Office into disrepute. A message has to be sent to the community that crime does not pay.”

Sometime last year, Chikore was at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison awaiting to see her husband when Sibanda approached her. Sibanda asked Chikore what she was doing at Chikurubi and she was told.

She told Chikore that as a public prosecutor, she was able to facilitate the freedom of her husband before requesting for a fee.
Chikore got interested since she required assistance. The court heard that they exchanged phone numbers.

Sibanda called Chikore the following day and asked her to send the money through EcoCash and Chikore complied and sent US$1 300.
The two later met at Karigamombe Centre in Harare where Chikore handed Sibanda the remaining balance.

After she had been “paid”, Sibanda became evasive, prompting Chikore to make a police report, which led to Sibanda’s arrest.