Car thief who posed as a cop given 14 years to repent

Magistrate Ashton Dube challenged Machika’s justification, saying his actions were a direct violation of the child’s rights and an obstruction of due legal process.

THIRTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD Allan Moyo came up with what he thought was a brilliant idea to run a successful criminal enterprise.

He thought masquerading as a police officer — with uniforms and all — would afford him the privilege to do as he pleased and, most importantly, help him evade the real law enforcers.

On February 17 last year, he pounced on his first victim — a kombi operator who was struggling to recover his Nissan Caravan vehicle that had been impounded by the Harare City Council. Smelling opportunity, Allan introduced himself as a police officer who was willing to work part-time as a driver.

With the fake authority of a man in uniform, he assured the desperate kombi owner that his “connections” could get the vehicle released.

All it would take was a cool US$220.

Sure enough, Allan delivered.

After the vehicle was released, the kombi owner not only paid him but also hired him as a driver.

At first, the newly recruited driver dutifully ferried passengers on the City-Mabvuku and City-Epworth routes while donning full police uniform for free passage at police checkpoints.

True to his nature, Allan eventually sold the kombi in Bindura, pocketed the money and vanished, leaving the owner with nothing but false promises and frustration.

The matter was reported to Zimbabwe Republic Police Harare Central on May 6, 2024.

With the plan having worked like a charm, Allan felt unstoppable.

He dressed up like a cop once again and sweet-talked another complainant into hiring out a blue Toyota Sienna for US$50 a day.

Of course, the car never returned.

As every criminal story goes, Allan’s web of deceit eventually came to an end.

He found himself in the dock at the Harare Magistrates’ Court.

Prosecutor Shambadzeni Fungura had the simplest task of exposing Allan for what he was — a fraud. Magistrate Sekesai Chiwundura threw the rule book at the wannabe imposter.

He was slapped with a 20-year sentence, of which three years were suspended on condition of good behaviour.

Another three months were suspended on condition he restitutes the victims.

Well, all this means is Allan will waste 14 years of his young life behind bars.

Swapping fake police uniform with the infamous bright orange prison garb represents a dramatic change in fortune for the fake cop.

Was it really worth it?