News / National
Bogus VID officials appear in court
29 Jun 2011 at 22:39hrs | Views
THREE bogus VID officials stood before the court of law on allegations of duping US$60 from a 31-year-old Chitungwiza woman on the grounds that they could book her a road test without any problems. Peter Chakezha (33), Nelson Nyangani (45) and Darlington James (20) faced a fraud charge before Harare magistrate Shelly Zvenyika.
The trio pleaded not guilty. Prosecutor Sikhangele Mahlamvana set July 13 as the date for the trial to commence. The complainant in this matter is Martha Chagonda and her husband David Madzimwa is the core State witness. Allegations against the trio are that their accomplice Emmanuel Tembo heard that Martha wanted to book for a road test at VID Eastlea.
Emmanuel, who was at Siyaso in Mbare informed Peter and Nelson who then approached Martha and misrepresented facts that they were VID inspectors. It is alleged that they discouraged Martha from going to join the supposedly long and unbearable queues at Eastlea. Martha was further sweet-talked into authorising the duo to book the road test on her behalf. On the day in question, Martha parted with US$60 and her Learner's licence.
The duo claimed that US$40 was for booking a road test while the remaining US$20 was meant for the processing of the metal disc. It is alleged that Darlington phoned Martha three days later asking for an appointment. Martha and Darlington met along Enterprise road and she was handed an envelope. Inside the envelope was a fake certificate of competency.
Martha became suspicious and she inquired why she was being issued with a licence yet she never went for the tests. To make matters worse, Darlington was demanding more money for the 'work' they had done. Darlington assured Martha not to worry since the licence was genuine.
The certificate of competency serial No 882180B had a fake date stamp, signature amongst other features. That is when Martha dragged Darlington to Eastlea VID where she discovered that she had been duped. The trio was arrested after failing to explain the origins of the fake document.
The trio pleaded not guilty. Prosecutor Sikhangele Mahlamvana set July 13 as the date for the trial to commence. The complainant in this matter is Martha Chagonda and her husband David Madzimwa is the core State witness. Allegations against the trio are that their accomplice Emmanuel Tembo heard that Martha wanted to book for a road test at VID Eastlea.
Emmanuel, who was at Siyaso in Mbare informed Peter and Nelson who then approached Martha and misrepresented facts that they were VID inspectors. It is alleged that they discouraged Martha from going to join the supposedly long and unbearable queues at Eastlea. Martha was further sweet-talked into authorising the duo to book the road test on her behalf. On the day in question, Martha parted with US$60 and her Learner's licence.
Martha became suspicious and she inquired why she was being issued with a licence yet she never went for the tests. To make matters worse, Darlington was demanding more money for the 'work' they had done. Darlington assured Martha not to worry since the licence was genuine.
The certificate of competency serial No 882180B had a fake date stamp, signature amongst other features. That is when Martha dragged Darlington to Eastlea VID where she discovered that she had been duped. The trio was arrested after failing to explain the origins of the fake document.
Source - TH
