Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo
Court Correspondent
A Harare man has appeared in court on allegations of impersonating a senior police officer and defrauding a private security company by falsely claiming he could renew firearm licences.
Luka Fungurani (51) appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Ruth Moyo facing two counts of fraud and one count of impersonating a police officer.
He was remanded in custody pending the determination of his bail application. Prosecutor Ms Chipo Muvhamba alleged that Fungurani falsely represented himself as a Superintendent in the Zimbabwe Republic Police with the authority to process and renew firearm certificates.
Acting on that representation, Jerusalem Security Solutions (Private) Limited director, Mr Dhumisani Melsketcher Karakadzai, allegedly entrusted Fungurani with the renewal of firearm certificates for six company firearms.
The firearms are a 12 Bore Mossberg shotgun, two CZ pistols, a .303 rifle, a Bore shotgun and a 12 Bore shotgun.
The State alleges that Fungurani issued fake firearm certificates to the complainant while pretending that the renewals had been processed through the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
Investigations later established that Fungurani was not a police officer and had no authority to process firearm licences or certificates.
As a result of the alleged misrepresentation, Jerusalem Security Solutions is said to have lost US$1 080 paid for the purported licence renewals.
Nothing has been recovered.
The State alleges that Fungurani unlawfully misrepresented himself as a police officer for personal gain, leading to the complainant suffering financial prejudice.
