Fake cop uses father's police ID to trick supermarket security officer

A man who used his father's police identity card to trick Choppies Bellevue Supermarket Security officer to allow him and his brother get into the supermarket after the shop had closed has been slapped with a suspended  three months jail term.

Brightboy Muparadzi (20) of Nkulumane was accused of having used his father, an ex-police sergeant D Muparadzi's police identity card when he returned to the store after they had bought something's and left. He claimed that they had left their change and when the security manager Emmanuel Mhlanga denied them entry saying the shop has closed, Muparadzi produced his father's identify card claiming that he was a police officer.

Muparadzi pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared before Bulawayo senior magistrate Sibongile Msipa Marondedze.

The magistrate convicted and sentenced him to three months in jail which was wholly suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.

The court heard that on February 11, this year at 8.05pm Muparadzi went to Bellevue Choppies with his brother Gilbelt Tsvari where they bought some groceries.

They left the shop an after 15 minutes they returned and told Mhlanga that they had left their change but the shop's doors were already closed, so Mhlanga did not allow them telling them to come back the following day.

Muparadzi then produced his father's police identity card with force number 022470 Y and introduced himself as a police officer. Mhlanga snatched the identity card before calling the police and Muparadzi realizing that they were to be arrested they got into their car and drove away. Mhlanga reported the matter to the police leading to Muparadzi's arrest.