Man in trouble over fake diamonds

A 25-YEAR-OLD Chimanimani man was on Monday arraigned before the courts facing charges of possessing fake diamonds.

Never Mtetwa of Tonhorai Village under Chief Muusha area appeared before Chipinge magistrate Mr James Gapara and pleaded guilty to charges of contravening Section 40 (I ) (Possession of articles for criminal use as defined in of the criminal law).

The State, led by Ms Edith Phiri, stated that: "On August 15 at 3pm, the accused, Never Mtetwa, who was in the company of his friend, approached Jasper Mlambo, who was driving his motor vehicle from Mutare to Chipinge.

"The accused was in possession of two polished stones which he was selling as diamonds at a price of $350 each. Jasper believed that the diamonds were genuine and drove to Chipinge with the accused person. Upon arrival in Chipinge town, Joseph Mlambo notified Detective Sergeants Hove and Chitiza about the "deal".

"The detectives acted swiftly and picked the accused at Gabaza Complex in Chipinge town. They conducted a search on him at CID Chipinge offices where they recovered 19 pieces of polished stones from his trousers which the accused was faking as diamonds. The detectives promptly arrested him."

Asked by Mr Gapara why he was into illegal activities, Mtetwa denied selling fake diamonds arguing that he was a quarts dealer.

"Your Worship, I am in the business of selling quarts for the upkeep of my family.
"It is not true that I lied that these stones were diamonds.

"What I know is that I approached Jasper and insisted to him that I was selling quarts, not polished diamonds," he said.

Mr Gapara was still to sentence Mtetwa at the time of going to print.