Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
Security officials deployed to Beitbridge have arrested a suspect in possession of a vehicle stolen in South Africa and smuggled into Zimbabwe via the Limpopo River.
Prosper Mafuta was apprehended in Mabidi suburb after detectives tracked the stolen Audi A4 to his location in Beitbridge town. The car was reported stolen in South Africa on September 7 before being smuggled into Zimbabwe.
Mafuta did not plead to the charges when he appeared before Beitbridge regional magistrate Ms Charity Maphosa, facing theft of a motor vehicle on Wednesday.
He was remanded in custody until September 22, pending a ruling on his bail application.
Prosecutor Mr Willbrought Muleya stated that on September 8, CID detectives received a tip-off about the stolen vehicle, which was tracked to Mabidi suburb. They located the South African registered Audi A4 and arrested Mafuta.
Further investigations revealed that the car, valued at thousands of dollars, had indeed been reported stolen in South Africa. It was also found that the vehicle had been fitted with fake registration number plates to conceal the crime.
Last week, police intercepted a Toyota Lexus that had been stolen and smuggled into Zimbabwe in a similar manner.
