News / National
Zimra cashier nabbed for reprinting receipts
09 Oct 2017 at 05:45hrs | Views
Police in Beitbridge have arrested a Zimbabwe Revenue Authority cashier on charges of criminal abuse of office after she was caught reprinting cash receipts for resale to dealers at the border post.
It is alleged that Fadzai Chirume would, after serving other clients, reprint the same receipts for resale to conmen and cross border transport operators. She busted on Monday afternoon after selling a receipt to Obey Hokonya - a suspected tout. Police Officer Commanding Beitbridge, Chief Superintendent Francis Phiri confirmed the incident, but could not give further details.
"Our Criminal Investigations Department is working on the matter, but I cannot give you further details," he said.
A border official revealed that Chirume was facing charges of criminal abuse of office, but the case was referred back to the police for further investigations when she was taken to court. Police suspected that the accused was linked to a syndicate of customs officers involved in the same trade.
"Indications are that Chirume reprinted receipt number R412439, which she had used in a previous transaction, with Peter Maseya of 2774 Budiriro in Harare. Maseya had paid customs duty of $79. After reprinting two copies, she sold them to Hokonya for R200," the official said.
Hokonya allegedly sold the same fraudulently obtained receipts to a cross-border transporter identified as Vision Chikoromu for $20 each. The crime was discovered by an alert customs officer in the Enforcement and Compliance section when Chikoromu tendered the receipt.
Chikoromu had allegedly declared that he had paid customs duty for groceries laden in his vehicle. He disappeared from the scene, but investigations led to the arrest of Hokonya and Chirume. Chikoromu, who abandoned his vehicle at the border, is still at large.
It is alleged that Fadzai Chirume would, after serving other clients, reprint the same receipts for resale to conmen and cross border transport operators. She busted on Monday afternoon after selling a receipt to Obey Hokonya - a suspected tout. Police Officer Commanding Beitbridge, Chief Superintendent Francis Phiri confirmed the incident, but could not give further details.
"Our Criminal Investigations Department is working on the matter, but I cannot give you further details," he said.
A border official revealed that Chirume was facing charges of criminal abuse of office, but the case was referred back to the police for further investigations when she was taken to court. Police suspected that the accused was linked to a syndicate of customs officers involved in the same trade.
"Indications are that Chirume reprinted receipt number R412439, which she had used in a previous transaction, with Peter Maseya of 2774 Budiriro in Harare. Maseya had paid customs duty of $79. After reprinting two copies, she sold them to Hokonya for R200," the official said.
Hokonya allegedly sold the same fraudulently obtained receipts to a cross-border transporter identified as Vision Chikoromu for $20 each. The crime was discovered by an alert customs officer in the Enforcement and Compliance section when Chikoromu tendered the receipt.
Chikoromu had allegedly declared that he had paid customs duty for groceries laden in his vehicle. He disappeared from the scene, but investigations led to the arrest of Hokonya and Chirume. Chikoromu, who abandoned his vehicle at the border, is still at large.
Source - Chronicle
