News / National
Three Fake Immigration Officials Appear in Court
23 Feb 2012 at 22:02hrs | Views
THREE Zvishavane men who last Friday invaded a Chinese owned mining company on the outskirts of Zvishavane town masquerading as Immigration officials before they demanded bribes from the managers yesterday appeared in court. They were arraigned before Zvishavane magistrate Mrs Mildred Matuvi facing charges of impersonation.
The trio, brothers Innocent (28) and Oswald Hungwe (31) and Tatenda Zengeni (28) pleaded not guilty to the charges and were remanded to 2 March on $100 each.
For the State, Mr William Man'ombe told the court that last Friday at about midday, the trio, which was travelling in a Toyota vehicle, registration numbers ABR6133 visited China Zimbabwe Cooperation Company Ngezi branch masquerading as Immigration officials.
Mr Man'ombe said the trio clad in full Immigration uniforms with tags bearing false names then demanded to see all the Chinese who were at the company site.
The court heard that the accused then met the manager, one Mr Zheng Jiangiang and his assistant, Mr Ye Qianzong the only Chinese who were at the company site.
Mr Man'ombe said the accused then demanded to see the two managers' passports and work permits.
Mr Zheng and Mr Ye then produced valid passports but indicated that their work permits were with the China Zimbabwe Co-operation managing director in Harare, the court heard.
Mr Man'ombe said the accused persons then demanded $1 000 "fine" from each of the two for failing to produce work permits.
The court heard that the two managers then indicated that they had no cash with them and that they could only phone their director in Harare to deposit the money.
Mr Man'ombe said the accused then told the two managers to speak to their director and sort out the matter while they proceeded to the company quarters where they then allegedly ransacked the employees' tents claiming that they were searching for more Chinese.
The court heard that while the accused were still searching the tents some police officers who had picked information that there were intruders at the company arrived, resulting in them fleeing leaving their vehicle at the scene.
Police investigations then led to the arrest of the three while two of their accomplices, one only identified as Ephraim and Eddy Mpofu are still at large.
Mr Man'ombe said police also managed to recover the Immigration uniforms and a computer set they used to create the fake badges.
On the fake badges, Innocent Hungwe was masquerading as Paul Sibanda while his brother, Oswald, was operating as Tendai Chuma.
Their third accomplice, Zengeni was identified as Lizbert Chakawa.
The trio, brothers Innocent (28) and Oswald Hungwe (31) and Tatenda Zengeni (28) pleaded not guilty to the charges and were remanded to 2 March on $100 each.
For the State, Mr William Man'ombe told the court that last Friday at about midday, the trio, which was travelling in a Toyota vehicle, registration numbers ABR6133 visited China Zimbabwe Cooperation Company Ngezi branch masquerading as Immigration officials.
Mr Man'ombe said the trio clad in full Immigration uniforms with tags bearing false names then demanded to see all the Chinese who were at the company site.
The court heard that the accused then met the manager, one Mr Zheng Jiangiang and his assistant, Mr Ye Qianzong the only Chinese who were at the company site.
Mr Man'ombe said the accused then demanded to see the two managers' passports and work permits.
Mr Zheng and Mr Ye then produced valid passports but indicated that their work permits were with the China Zimbabwe Co-operation managing director in Harare, the court heard.
Mr Man'ombe said the accused persons then demanded $1 000 "fine" from each of the two for failing to produce work permits.
Mr Man'ombe said the accused then told the two managers to speak to their director and sort out the matter while they proceeded to the company quarters where they then allegedly ransacked the employees' tents claiming that they were searching for more Chinese.
The court heard that while the accused were still searching the tents some police officers who had picked information that there were intruders at the company arrived, resulting in them fleeing leaving their vehicle at the scene.
Police investigations then led to the arrest of the three while two of their accomplices, one only identified as Ephraim and Eddy Mpofu are still at large.
Mr Man'ombe said police also managed to recover the Immigration uniforms and a computer set they used to create the fake badges.
On the fake badges, Innocent Hungwe was masquerading as Paul Sibanda while his brother, Oswald, was operating as Tendai Chuma.
Their third accomplice, Zengeni was identified as Lizbert Chakawa.
Source - TH
