News / National
Bogus VID officer fined
28 Dec 2013 at 20:18hrs | Views
A 41-year-old former soldier who masqueraded as a VID official has been found guilty of impersonation and ordered to pay a US$300 fine or spend the next four months behind bars.
Joseph Sibanda of Budiriro 4 was facing three counts of impersonating a VID official when he appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Tsatsawani Ndaba last week.
However, he was acquitted on two of the charges as the State could not prove the cases against him.
On the third charge, Sibanda was charged for impersonating a public officer as defined in Section 179 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23.
Prosecutor Mr Desire Chidanire told the court that on December 4 this year, Moses Misheck (29) of Dzivaresekwa 3 parked his commuter omnibus at Greencroft shops. Sibanda, who was clad in VID uniform, barged into the vehicle and accused Misheck of violating road traffic regulations.
He ordered Misheck to drive to Mabelreign Police Station. As they were driving towards the station, Sibanda is said to have instructed Misheck to stop the vehicle so that they could negotiate.
Misheck, however, did not listen to this and countinued driving towards the police station. Upon arrival, Sibanda failed to produce documents to show that he was a VID official.
The impostor was immediately arrested and the VID uniform he was wearing was recovered.
Ms Ndaba sentenced Sibanda to 10 months in prison.
However, six months were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence in the next five years while the remaining four months are set to be waived if Sibanda pays the US$300 fine.
Joseph Sibanda of Budiriro 4 was facing three counts of impersonating a VID official when he appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Tsatsawani Ndaba last week.
However, he was acquitted on two of the charges as the State could not prove the cases against him.
On the third charge, Sibanda was charged for impersonating a public officer as defined in Section 179 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23.
Prosecutor Mr Desire Chidanire told the court that on December 4 this year, Moses Misheck (29) of Dzivaresekwa 3 parked his commuter omnibus at Greencroft shops. Sibanda, who was clad in VID uniform, barged into the vehicle and accused Misheck of violating road traffic regulations.
He ordered Misheck to drive to Mabelreign Police Station. As they were driving towards the station, Sibanda is said to have instructed Misheck to stop the vehicle so that they could negotiate.
Misheck, however, did not listen to this and countinued driving towards the police station. Upon arrival, Sibanda failed to produce documents to show that he was a VID official.
The impostor was immediately arrested and the VID uniform he was wearing was recovered.
Ms Ndaba sentenced Sibanda to 10 months in prison.
However, six months were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence in the next five years while the remaining four months are set to be waived if Sibanda pays the US$300 fine.
Source - Zimpapers
