News / National
Russian gets two fake Zimbabwean passports, pleads not guilty
23 Nov 2015 at 05:24hrs | Views
A Russian who allegedly used fake documents to apply for two Zimbabwean passports in Bindura has appeared in court charged with fraud.
Steven Paul Sugden processed a Zimbabwean birth certificate and a national identity card, which he used to obtain two passports bearing different names.
Sudgen pleaded not guilty to fraud charges when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe. With the State's consent, Sudgen was granted bail and remanded him to December 16 for trial.
Prosecuting, Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa alleged that sometime in April 2012 Sugden made an application for a passport at the Registrar-General's Office in Bindura. It is alleged he used a fake birth certificate with birth entry number GZI 266/74.
While applying for the same document, it is alleged Sugden also used a fake national identity card bearing registration number 70-0037720-F. It is the State's case that acting on the misrepresentation, the Registrar-General's Office issued him with a passport which is valid till 2022.
Using the same fake documents, sometime in December 2012, Sugden, the court heard, applied for another passport at the Registrar-General's Office in Chinhoyi. He was issued with a second passport bearing a different name, it is alleged.
When the offence came to light, investigations by the police, with the help of the RG's Office, revealed that the birth entry number used by Sugden belonged to a woman.
It was also discovered that the identity card number he used belonged to another man, the State alleged.
Steven Paul Sugden processed a Zimbabwean birth certificate and a national identity card, which he used to obtain two passports bearing different names.
Sudgen pleaded not guilty to fraud charges when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe. With the State's consent, Sudgen was granted bail and remanded him to December 16 for trial.
Prosecuting, Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa alleged that sometime in April 2012 Sugden made an application for a passport at the Registrar-General's Office in Bindura. It is alleged he used a fake birth certificate with birth entry number GZI 266/74.
While applying for the same document, it is alleged Sugden also used a fake national identity card bearing registration number 70-0037720-F. It is the State's case that acting on the misrepresentation, the Registrar-General's Office issued him with a passport which is valid till 2022.
Using the same fake documents, sometime in December 2012, Sugden, the court heard, applied for another passport at the Registrar-General's Office in Chinhoyi. He was issued with a second passport bearing a different name, it is alleged.
When the offence came to light, investigations by the police, with the help of the RG's Office, revealed that the birth entry number used by Sugden belonged to a woman.
It was also discovered that the identity card number he used belonged to another man, the State alleged.
Source - the herald
