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Limpret Moyo, Sunday News Reporter
TWO Bulawayo men were arrested and brought before the courts after they duped a businessman of property worth $2 900 claiming to be police officers.
The two, Serial Munsika (30) of Pumula South and Albert Ngwenya (29) of Magwegwe West appeared before West Commonage magistrate Mr Lungile Ncube facing a charge of impersonating police officers.
They allegedly pretended to be police officers and visited the complainant, Mr Tachiona Mupfudze claiming to be checking on his business licence.
They ended up befriending him and promised to lend him $1 500 to boost his business. Mr Mupfudze owns Touch Communications in Tshabalala. As part of the deal they allegedly took his 52-inch plasma television; Defy fridge and two phones all valued at $2 900 which they claimed was collateral.
Part of the property was recovered although the fridge had been sold by Munsika. The court through the prosecutor Ms Memory Ndlovu heard that the two informed Mr Mupfudze that they were carrying out licence checks. They visited his shop until they offered to lend him money.
Munsika, the court heard, claimed to be stationed at Donnington Police Station while Ngwenya said he was stationed at Magnet House. From then on the duo frequented Mr Mupfudze’s workplace and later asked him to present to them the problems he was facing.
They then offered to lend him $1 500 on condition that they hold on to his property as collateral but they disappeared with his property and never gave him the money they had promised.
Ngwenya was freed after the court failed to get evidence that he indeed impersonated a police officer. Munsika, however, said he was sorry and it was not his intention to defraud Mr Mupfudze.
“I am more than friends with him. I wanted to give him the money as promised but I delayed. I don’t know what happened because I usually help people,” he said.
Online Reporter