Online Reporter
Solomon Bhumu
Post Reporter
THREE men masqueraded as ZIMRA officers to defraud a motorist of US$1,500.
Farai Kowo (25), Pascal Panevamwe (34) and Needmore Maposa (40) have been arrested.
They appeared before magistrate Annie Ndiraya at the Mutare Magistrates Court.
They are facing fraud charges.
They were remanded in custody.
Prosecutor Chris Manyuku told the court that the complainant, Tatenda Macheso Nadhana, had his Nissan NV350 vehicle seized by ZIMRA on December 31, last year, on allegations of smuggling.
On January 5, the trio allegedly approached Nadhana at GMS Mutare.
They introduced themselves as ZIMRA officials.
They claimed they had the capacity to facilitate the release of the seized vehicle.
The court heard that the trio demanded US$1,500, claiming it was required to secure the vehicle’s release.
Acting on the misrepresentation, the complainant paid US$300 in cash on January 6, US$254 via mobile money and a further US$1,000 in cash on January 10.
However, the complainant later realised that the accused were not ZIMRA officials and had no authority to release the vehicle.
A report was subsequently made to the police, leading to the arrest of the suspects.
The total amount allegedly lost is US$1,500.
The matter was postponed to tomorrow.
Bongani Ndlovu