adminThupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
TWO police officers stationed at Beitbridge Border Post have been arrested for allegedly using a fake receipt book to collect fines from travellers violating immigration laws.
Illegal immigrants who enter the country through the ports of entry are fined $10 or R100 for entry by evasion under the provisions of the Immigration Act.
Tendai Machanzi and Define Ndere ran out of luck when their supervisor detected that they were using a counterfeit receipt book on Monday evening during routine checks. They had already collected fines amounting to R6,200 using the fake receipt book.
Through their lawyer, Patrick Tererai of Tererai Legal Practice, the duo denied the allegations when they appeared before Beitbridge resident magistrate, Gloria Takundwa on Thursday.
They were both remanded to April, 22, for trial on $100 bail each.
Prosecuting, Jabulani Mberesi told the court that both police officers were deployed to the police post within the border post.
He said on March 29, the two commenced duty at around 11PM and Machanzi , who was the member in charge received nine Z69 (J) police receipt books from the previous shift leader.
Machanzi and Ndere’s duties included receipting deposit fines.
Mberesi said at around 23.55 hours, Assistant Inspector Hilary Sibanda and Chief Inspector Godwin Mutanga arrived at the police post on an anti-corruption spot check.
The court further heard that Chief Inspector Sibanda noticed that Ndere was using two Z69 (J) books to receipt deposit fines prompting him to inquire. Ndere then indicated that she had been given both books by Machanzi who was the member in charge. Checks by the chief inspector raised further suspicions.
Machanzi was requested to produce all the receipt books he had received from the previous shift, and instead of producing nine, he brought 10 books.
Further interrogations revealed that the receipt book the two had been using was fake and had no matching police features.
They were arrested and both the original and counterfeit books were recovered.
The State was prejudiced R3,800.
Bongani Moyo
Online Reporter