Sharon Jiyamwa
Herald Reporter
A 24-year-old cash transfer clerk allegedly staged a US$32 000 robbery at his workplace after siphoning more than US$32 000 from his employer through unauthorised electronic transfers and cash theft.
Malrvin Kudakwashe Chiwara, of Highfield, Harare, allegedly connived with a former colleague to stage the October 27 robbery at the Hallo Paisa branch in at Machipisa Shopping Centre, in an attempt to conceal the missing funds.
Chiwara appeared before the Harare Magistrates Court facing a charge of deliberately supplying false information to a public authority, as defined under Section 180(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
He is also jointly charged with theft alongside Tinashe Muzembe and Obey Gwasha.
Prosecutors allege that from last to October 27 this year, Chiwara systematically stole US$32 312 from his employer through unauthorised electronic transfers and cash withdrawals on various occasions.
To cover up the theft, he allegedly contacted Tadiwa Mukwaira, a former employee of the company, and asked him to organise a fake robbery.
Mukwaira allegedly recruited Muzembe and Gwasha, who reportedly entered the Machipisa premises on October 27 and carried out the staged heist.
During the incident, Chiwara allegedly deliberately failed to raise the alarm or activate the panic button, despite having access to both the emergency system and a security guard stationed at the entrance.
The two alleged accomplices then left with the cash, after which Chiwara reported the incident to ZRP Machipisa as a robbery.
However, police investigations allegedly exposed the incident as a carefully orchestrated cover-up for the earlier theft.
Detectives from CID Homicide in Harare arrested Chiwara and his alleged accomplices, recovering part of the stolen money.
Opposing bail, investigating officer Detective Sergeant Kudzanai Saki told the court that Chiwara was a flight risk because he lived in rented accommodation.
He also argued that the accused could interfere with outstanding investigations, particularly as a significant portion of the stolen money remained unrecovered.
Police further submitted that granting bail could undermine public confidence in the justice system amid growing concerns over financial crimes.
