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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
Two police officers stationed at Beitbridge Border Post have been arrested for making a duplicate receipt book which they used to collect fines from undocumented travellers whom they accused of violating the country’s immigration laws.
Illegal immigrants who enter the country through the ports of entry are fined $10 or R100 for evasion under provisions of the Immigration Act.
Tendai Machanzi and Define Ndere ran out of luck when their supervisor picked up the anomaly on Monday evening during routine checks. The two had collected fines amounting to R6 200 using the counterfeit receipt book.
Through their lawyer, Patrick Tererari of Tererai Legal Practice, the duo denied the allegations when they appeared before Beitbridge resident magistrate Miss Gloria Takundwa last week.
They were both remanded to April 22 on $100 bail each.
Prosecuting, Mr Jabulani Mberesi told the court that both accused persons were deployed to the police post within the border.
He said on March 29 they commenced duty at around 11pm where Machanzi was the officer-in-charge and he received nine Z69 (J) police receipt books during handover and takeover of office from the previous shift leader.
Among other duties the officers were to receipt deposit fines from offenders.
Mr Mberesi said at around 11.55pm, one Assistant Inspector Hilary Sibanda and Chief Inspector Godwin Mutanga arrived at the police post on an anti-corruption spot check.
The court heard that Sibanda noticed that Ndere was using two Z69 (J) books to receipt deposit fines prompting him to enquire. Ndere then indicated that she had been given both books by Machanzi who was the officer-in-charge.
Sibanda then checked both books and discovered that they had serial numbers 103-15 with receipt serial numbers ranging from 0690201 to 0690250 and that Ndere had receipted R6 200 from serial numbers 0690201 to 0690231.
In the other receipt book Ndere had receipted R10 000 and the book was filled up. Further checks revealed that Machanzi had witnessed all the receipts and that the same book was completed on all portions except on the names of the persons.
Sibanda then called Mutanga and more investigations were carried out.
Machanzi was asked to produce all the receipt books he had received from the previous shift. Instead of nine the accused brought in 10 books.
It was then established that the original book with serial numbers 0690201 to 0690250 was Beitbridge Urban Book number 95-15 and filled up on March 28. The same book was also on the Beitbridge police official records.
Further investigations revealed that receipt book 103-15 which the accused persons were using was fake and did not have matching police features.
The duo was arrested before all the original and counterfeit books were recovered along with the R6 200. The state suffered a prejudice of R3 800 in revenue.
Online Reporter