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Fungai Lupande Court Reporter
A Dutch woman who came to Zimbabwe on a blind date, but ended up falling in love with the country, has appeared in court accused of fraudulently acquiring a residence permit.
Lutter Claudia (57) appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe facing charges of being “found in possession of or using a permit or travel document or any other certificate or document which she is not entitled to”.
The prosecutor, Ms Francesca Mukumbiri, opposed Claudia’s application for discharge at the close of the State’s case.
“The accused is not an investor to qualify to have a permanent resident permit, neither did she stay in Zimbabwe for a continuous five years,” said Ms Mukumbiri.
“The immigration officer who endorsed the fraudulent permit was arrested. There was no application filed at the immigration offices, meaning the accused was not entitled to the permit.”
She added that the accused’s ex-lover, Kim Bikertfort, whom she met on a blind date, testified in court.
“Kim said he advised Claudia against getting the permit. He said she threw a party celebrating the acquisition of the permit.”
Claudia insisted she came on Valentine’s Day on a blind date, but she was a regular visitor. Mr Mahwe ruled that Claudia had to explain how she acquired the permit and dismissed the application for discharge. She will return to court on January 25 next year.
Ms Mukumbiri alleged that on July 25 this year Claudia was at house number 32 Coghlan Road, Greendale, in Harare when she was picked up for interrogation. Immigration officials asked her to produce her particulars.
On page 6 of her passport number C48389LHG were two Zimbabwe immigration date stamps, which showed that she used the same travelling document on February 14, 2013 for re-entry as a Zimbabwean permanent resident.
Records at Immigration Headquarters indicated Claudia first came to Zimbabwe on July 8, 1994 on holiday and went back after two months.
Investigations also showed Claudia never applied for a permanent residence permit to the Chief Immigration Officer.
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