News / National
'CIOs' in failed police station gold heist
14 Sep 2018 at 01:46hrs | Views
TWO men from Kwekwe have appeared in court for impersonating officers from the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) in a bid to take gold that was kept as an exhibit at West Nicholson Police Station in Gwanda.
Shepherd Tafirenyika (28) and Elvis Matsikidze (36) both from Redcliff Suburb were not asked to plead when they appeared briefly before Gwanda magistrate, Miss Nomagugu Ncube, facing charges of impersonating a police officer, peace officer or public official.
They were remanded in custody to September 26.
Prosecuting, Ms Teererai Mahohoma said Tafirenyika and Matsikidze misrepresented themselves as CIOs and tried to get the gold ore on July 9 and September 11.
"Tafirenyika and Matsikidze proceeded to West Nicholson Police Station and requested to see the Officer-in-Charge Inspector Taderera. They introduced themselves as officials from the President's Office in Harare and indicated that they had been sent by their organisation to look into mining disputes that were ongoing at West Nicholson Youth Mine. They demanded to be escorted by police officers to the mine in order to stop mining activities there.
"Insp Taderera asked Tafirenyika and Matsikidze to produce their identity cards but they failed. Insp Taderera refused to give in to their demands and instead called his superiors who told him that Tafirenyika and Matsikidze were supposed to report to the office of the Officer Commanding District or Province if they wanted to be attended to," she said.
Ms Mahohoma said Insp Taderera advised Tafirenyika and Matsikidze who left but did not go to the office they had been directed to. She said the two men went back to West Nicholson Police Station on September 11 and approached Insp Taderera and again purported to be CIOs. Ms Mahohoma said Tafirenyika and Matsikidze demanded the release of gold ore from West Nicholson Youth Mine which was being kept at the police station pending finalisation of the dispute.
She said the matter came to light when some operatives from the President's office in Gwanda arrived at the police station while Tafirenyika and Matsikidze were still there.
Ms Mahohoma said investigations were made which revealed that the duo was impersonating operatives from the President's Office leading to their arrest.
Shepherd Tafirenyika (28) and Elvis Matsikidze (36) both from Redcliff Suburb were not asked to plead when they appeared briefly before Gwanda magistrate, Miss Nomagugu Ncube, facing charges of impersonating a police officer, peace officer or public official.
They were remanded in custody to September 26.
Prosecuting, Ms Teererai Mahohoma said Tafirenyika and Matsikidze misrepresented themselves as CIOs and tried to get the gold ore on July 9 and September 11.
"Tafirenyika and Matsikidze proceeded to West Nicholson Police Station and requested to see the Officer-in-Charge Inspector Taderera. They introduced themselves as officials from the President's Office in Harare and indicated that they had been sent by their organisation to look into mining disputes that were ongoing at West Nicholson Youth Mine. They demanded to be escorted by police officers to the mine in order to stop mining activities there.
"Insp Taderera asked Tafirenyika and Matsikidze to produce their identity cards but they failed. Insp Taderera refused to give in to their demands and instead called his superiors who told him that Tafirenyika and Matsikidze were supposed to report to the office of the Officer Commanding District or Province if they wanted to be attended to," she said.
Ms Mahohoma said Insp Taderera advised Tafirenyika and Matsikidze who left but did not go to the office they had been directed to. She said the two men went back to West Nicholson Police Station on September 11 and approached Insp Taderera and again purported to be CIOs. Ms Mahohoma said Tafirenyika and Matsikidze demanded the release of gold ore from West Nicholson Youth Mine which was being kept at the police station pending finalisation of the dispute.
She said the matter came to light when some operatives from the President's office in Gwanda arrived at the police station while Tafirenyika and Matsikidze were still there.
Ms Mahohoma said investigations were made which revealed that the duo was impersonating operatives from the President's Office leading to their arrest.
Source - chronicle
