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Auxilia Katongomara Court Reporter
BULAWAYO’S top fraud detective appeared in court yesterday charged with extorting an alleged fraudster of $300.
Detective Chief Inspector George Machinga, 44, the officer-in-charge of the Criminal Investigations Department Frauds Section, was arrested in his office at CABS Building last Friday in a sting operation.
Machinga was freed on $50 bail by Bulawayo magistrate, Sibongile Msipa, as he was remanded to July 4.
Prosecutor Tafadzwa Mutsambiwa said on June 19 this year, alleged fraudster Pardon Dube, received a call from a Detective Sergeant Ncube to come to the CID offices to answer questions on allegations of misrepresenting a lawyer.
Dube, the court heard, had allegedly conned Cardelai Bhatshisi of $250 after claiming to be a lawyer in a matter in which she needed legal representation.
After the call from Det Sgt Ncube, the court was told, Dube proceeded to the CID offices but elected not to look for Det Sgt Ncube but instead went to his boss Machinga’s office to seek clarification on the alleged charge.
“Machinga told Dube that Ncube was ready to arrest him, but he had stopped him from doing so,” said Mutsambiwa.
The court heard that Machinga advised Dube to look for $550 of which $300 was for buying his freedom, and $250 to refund Bhatshisi, who had reported him for fraud.
Machinga then took Dube’s plastic identity card as surety that he would come back with the money, said the prosecutor.
“The following day, Dube went around looking for $300 but felt the demand was too much and approached police commanders at ZRP provincial headquarters at Ross Camp where a plan to trap Machinga was hatched,” said Mutsambiwa.
“An authority to set a trap on Machinga was granted and Dube’s notes amounting to $300 were photocopied and serial numbers recorded before he took them to Machinga as a bribe for his freedom.”
She said on the same day, at around 2.20PM, Dube proceeded to Machinga’s office at CID Frauds Section where he handed him $300 and was given his identity card and left.
Mutsambiwa said on his way out, Dube alerted a Chief Inspector Nsingo and his arrest team who rushed to Machinga’s office and conducted a search on him and his office.
“After a thorough search, the $300 bribe money was found inside a steel cabinet under a picture frame and the denominations matched with the photocopied notes and serial numbers. Machinga was immediately arrested. The money was taken and will be used as an exhibit in court,” she said.
Machinga, who is represented by Mlamuli Ncube, was ordered to reside at ZRP Sauerstown where he lives, surrender his passport and not to interfere with state witnesses.
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