Senior cops' names used in mobile money scam

Four men, among them a former policeman and an MDC-T Manicaland provincial secretary for security, allegedly registered cellphone lines in the names of senior police officers, Government officials, magistrates and journalists, which they used to swindle unsuspecting people and police officers of more than $7 000.

Givemore Tapera (36), Willard Jonhasi (33), Liberty (28) and Trymore Gata (32) are said to have registered the lines in the names of Godwin Matanga and Levi Sibanda, both Deputy Commissioners-General in the Zimbabwe Republic Police; Godfrey Munyonga, a senior assistant commissioner; and Langton Mukwengi, a provincial magistrate in Mutare.

Other people whose names were used are Peter Muzavazi, the Manicaland provincial education director and his deputy Andrew Shumbai; Abel Zhakata, a journalist with Manica Post; and one Godfrey Chibage.

Using the fraudulently registered lines, the gang would call traffic cops in charge of stations advising them that they required money for fuel costs to enable them to visit their police stations before ordering them to send the money through EcoCash.

The victims would fall for the scam because the EcoCash confirmation would indicate that the recipient of the cash was a top police officer. At this stage, it is not clear how they swindled people using Zhakata's and the Government official's names. The quartet appeared before magistrate Mr Vakayi Chikwekwe charged with fraud.

Prosecutor Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa opposed bail on the basis that the quartet is facing a serious charge and that some of them have previous convictions. He submitted that Tapera uses another name, Samuel Mhaka, and was once convicted of another charge in Mutare under the name Mhaka.

The quartet's lawyer, Mr Simon Chabuka, dismissed the State's claims arguing that Tapera was not the same person as Mhaka. However, the State intends to call a forensic fingerprint expert to cement their claims.

Mr Chikwekwe remanded the gang in custody to tomorrow when the expert is expected to come to court. Tapera is a former insurance finance adviser to Fidelity Life Insurance and Jonhasi is a former policeman while Liberty and Trymore are unemployed.

The complainants in the matter are Memory Zemba, a police officer stationed at Harare Traffic Section; Inspector Namatai Vambe, who is the officer-in-charge traffic, Bindura; and Godsall Ndlovu, the officer-in-charge traffic, Ma- zowe.

According to the State, there are other complainants who are yet to make formal reports. Prosecuting, Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa alleged that during the period extending from January 1 to April 10, the gang hatched a plan to extort members of ZRP and Government officials and other members of the public.

They purchased Econet lines, which they went on to fraudulently register for EcoCash accounts in the names of the senior police officer mentioned, Government officials and the journalist.

On different occasions, the four called the complainants and identified themselves as the above mentioned senior officers and misrepresented that they were on official duty and demanded cash, which they said was meant for fuel.

On other occasions, the accused persons would solicit for funds whilst misrepresenting that they required money to enable them to visit their police stations. They would suggest that the victims should deposit the money in any of the EcoCash accounts supplied.

The complainants lost $7 500 and nothing was recovered. Investigations carried out established the identity of the accused as the ones using the cellphone handsets, which at times alternated use of some of the above mentioned cellphone numbers with the said EcoCash accounts.

Tapera was arrested on April 10 and he implicated his alleged accomplices.