Fake officer jailed

Court Reporter
A CHITUNGWIZA man who posed as a police officer and extorted a family of US$350 was last week jailed for one year.
Garikai Shangwa (31) posed as a policeman and arrested Tashinga Manyonga (29) of Unit J accusing him of illegally dealing in gold before extorting US$350 from the family for his release.  Chitungwiza magistrate Mr Kudakwashe Jarabini sentenced Shangwa to 18 months in prison after he admitted to two counts of impersonation and two others of extortion.

Mr Jarabini set aside six months of his sentence on condition he pays back US$350 to Manyonga and his mother by September 30. The court heard that on August 17 Shangwa approached Manyonga who was drinking beer at Gardens Sports Bar in the same location and misrepresented to him that he was a policeman. He told Manyonga that he was under arrest for allegedly possessing gold without a licence in terms of the law.

He produced a police identity card number 064890G belonging to Constable Maganyani claiming to be a detective stationed at Harare Central Police Station.

The court heard that Shangwa searched Manyonga and took US$150, which was in one of his pockets. He told Manyonga that he wanted to verify his residence before releasing him. Shangwa then ordered Manyonga to get into a taxi that was being driven by Charles Mashatini and went to the victim’s house in Unit J.

On arrival, Shangwa confirmed with Manyonga’s father and was told that he stayed at the residence. He left with his suspect on the pretext that they were going to the police station.  However, along the way Shangwa ordered Manyonga to drop off at Unit J shopping centre and told him that he would come back.

Two days later, Shangwa hooked up with Manyonga and took him to his home where he approached the man’s mother, Getrude Ndoro. He introduced himself as a police officer and demaded US$200 to release Munyonga which he was given.