ZRP sergeant stole traffic ticket book

A former sergeant with the Zimbabwe Republic Police Marondera National Traffic last Friday appeared before a Marondera magistrate facing charges of stealing ticket books suspected to have been used at roadblocks with the money collected not being remitted to the State.

John Magwesere (30) appeared before Mr Edwin Marecha charged with criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.

The State led by prosecutor Ms Rangarirai Gurupira yesterday called Inspector Musafare Mahwete who is the Officer in Charge of Internal Audit in Harare as a witness.

Insp Mahwete said on February 20 this year they were tasked to visit Mashonaland East province to carry out audits at all police stations, checking financial books, ticket books and that all money was submitted to the courts or banks.

Marondera National Traffic was the first port of call and they checked whether all the books allocated to the station were recorded as well as being physically accounted for.

Inspector Mahwete said they had a master register from Police Printers in Harare of all books allocated to the province. During the verification process, they discovered that the issue voucher for November 5, 2009 indicated that 10 books had been issued but only five were recorded in the station register. On further verification, they discovered that on July 24, 2009 another five books were not entered into the station register.

Magwesere allegedly took all the books from Police Printers according to records.

Insp Mahwete said during lunch time on the day of the audit in Marondera, he was phoned by someone claiming to be Magwesere who asked if he was part of the team auditing Mashonaland East province, and he said yes. He said the caller alleging to be Magwesere then said in Shona: "Mudhara pakakoromorwa. Hapana here zvamungaite kuti nyaya isaende mberi? Ndinokuitiraiwo something."

Insp Mahwete said he informed his superiors who immediately ordered retrieving of more information from Police Printers in Harare.

He said by not finding the missing books, they could not audit them as well as the whereabouts of the cash that could have been collected using them. Under cross-examination from Mr Batanai Pesanai of IEG Musimbe and partners who is representing Magwesere, Insp Mahwete said he recorded the cell number that was used to contact him. Insp Mahwete said failure to record the books in the station register and their unaccountability amounted to criminal activity. Mr Marecha remanded Magwesere who is out of custody to 14 June for continuation of the trial when the State is expected to call more witnesses.

According to the State case, Magwesere intentionally requested for a total of 35 deposit fine books from ZRP Printers in Harare that he did not enter into the Marondera National Traffic record book, which was contrary to his duties as the traffic section administrator.

Ms Gurupira alleges that during an audit by the Police General Headquarters finance section from Harare, it was discovered that the books had been issued and signed for by Magwesere and not entered into the station register.

Further investigations allegedly revealed that the books had been used to accept deposit fines at Marondera National Traffic and the money was not remitted to the State. The 35 books were not recovered. On March 3 this year, some dockets, traffic accident books and forms were closed by police on the strength of the stolen copies.

Another sergeant from Marondera National Traffic Cuthbert Matope has also since been arrested facing charges of receiving 65 books that he did not record in the station register. Matope is appearing before another Marondera magistrate Mr Tafadzwa Muvhami facing charges of criminal abuse of duty.