Fake papers used in vehicle clearing scam

A Harare man yesterday appeared in court accused of clearing vehicles using fake custom clearance certificates and forged police date stamps.

Itai Chakufora appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe for a warrant of further detention.

The investigating officer in the case, Detective Constable Edmore Nyarota, told the court that he needed more time to conclude the probe.

"The accused is facing charges of printing customs clearance certificates which are used at the Central Vehicle Registry (CVR)," he said.

"He allegedly forged police date stamps which he used with the customs clearance certificate to clear vehicles.

"The cleared vehicles appeared in the CVR system."

Det Cst Nyarota wanted Chakufora to lead him to where the printing equipment was located.

"We want to recover the printing equipment and arrest the accused's accomplices," he said.

"We also want him to lead us to where the date stamps are. This morning we received more fake customs certificates from CVR and we need time to recover all the registered vehicles. If we fail to do all that, we lose all the evidence."

Chakufora told the court that he had no complaints against the police.

Mr Mahwe granted the application for Chakufora's further detention until tomorrow.