adminThe accused, Brian Mpofu of House Number K17 in Mzilikazi, also allegedly posed as a bill packer at the council, to dupe two residents of $1 620. A bill packer is someone who sorts bills according to the addresses that they should be delivered to.
The money was supposed to be deposit for stands in Gwabalanda suburb.
Although it is suspected that Mpofu ripped off more residents, the two cases were the only ones where conclusive evidence was found, leading to his arrest.
According to the latest council report, a council investigation team, led by Senior Sergeant-Major Nicholas Mapetshwana Moyo, received information that Mpofu was selling housing stands to residents.
“On Tuesday 27 September 2011, a report was received to the effect that the suspect sold council stands to two Bulawayo residents on 29 July 2011,” reads the report.
The investigation team reportedly tracked down one of the victims, Ms Prinsencia Sibanda of Nkulumane, who gave them details of her transaction with Mpofu.
“Our team then interviewed Ms Sibanda who informed us that on 29 July she went to Swift Transport, Belmont, to see Mpofu. She further stated that while at Belmont, she paid $500 to the suspect’s girlfriend, for a promised stand at Gwabalanda. Ms Sibanda was given an agreement of sale that had the director of housing and community services (Mr Isaiah Magagula)’s forged signature and name,” the report reads.
It is stated in the report that Mpofu made arrangements with Ms Sibanda to source more clients for him.
The report reads that the investigation team made arrangements to meet Mpofu, who promised one of the investigators a church stand.
The team reportedly arrested Mpofu after gathering the evidence that they needed.
He allegedly made a confession to his crimes when the team interrogated him.
Mpofu allegedly stated that he took $800 from Ms Sibanda for a stand in Gwabalanda.
He reportedly further confessed that he also took $820 from Nkululeko Dube, also of Nkulumane, for another stand in Gwabalanda.
“However, Brian Mpofu freely admitted to have unlawfully used the director of housing’s name and signature to convince his clients. Evidence was handed over to Sergeant Tadzimira at Bulawayo Central Police Station,” reads the report.
Mr Magagula commended the council departments that were involved in exposing the scam.
Hundreds of home-seekers continue to fall prey to con artists in the city where there is a housing backlog of more than 100 000.
Online Reporter