News / Regional
Tsholotsho fake cop acquitted
13 Apr 2016 at 06:56hrs | Views
A TSHOLOTSHO man who performed police duties, including operating at a police station for a year, was acquitted after the State failed to prove that he had committed the crime.
Brighton Chamhanga allegedly operated within the police anti-stock theft unit in Tsholotsho and duped police officers into believing that he had been sent to investigate corruption within their ranks.
He allegedly told the Officer-in-Charge ZRP Tsholotsho, Chief Inspector Chapeyama that he had been assigned by the officer commanding Lupane, Chief Superintendent Johannes Govo, to investigate corruption cases.
As a result, police were allegedly afraid to verify his credentials.
Bulawayo magistrate Batanai Tuwe discharged Chamhanga at the close of the State Case saying it had failed to prove the commission of the crime beyond any reasonable doubt.
"The accused is therefore found not guilty of the charges levelled against him and is acquitted at the close of the State Case," he said.
Sikhumbuzo Sibanda, for the State, alleged that Chamhanga had access to some sensitive police documents while operating within the force.
"Chamhanga approached Chief Insp Chapeyama and informed him that he had been assigned by the officer commanding Lupane, Chief Superintendent Johannes Govo, to investigate corruption cases involving stock. He used that to have access to stock clearance forms which are security items," said Sibanda.
He said sometime in July last year, Chamhanga accompanied Constable Nomalanga Mkhwananzi to clear cattle bought by Anele Mkhwananzi at Ntulani Line.
"It was then that Constable Mkhwananzi became aware that Chamhanga had introduced himself to the stock buyer as a police officer. Chamhanga accompanied another police officer to clear stock and he introduced himself as a police officer," said Sibanda.
"Chamhanga also accompanied Isabel Mahachi in search of a beast in Nanda Njube Line and introduced himself as a police officer holding a high rank under CID Stock theft Tsholotsho. A Tsholotsho family also approached him seeking advice on bail application and he demanded $50 to facilitate the bail application. He also allegedly questioned some cattle buyers, saying he was a police officer.
"He went on to sign a stock clearance form but didn't endorse his force number as is a requirement by police officers when signing official documents," Sibanda said of an incident that led to the alleged fake cop's arrest.
He said on August 8 last year at around 6PM at Tsholotsho Business Centre, Chamhanga approached one Lillian Dube and introduced himself as a police officer.
"He went on to state that he had been recently transferred from ZRP Mutare and intended to transport his refrigerator to Tsholotsho though he had no money. Chamhanga then asked Dube to lend him $30 and she sent it via EcoCash believing him to be a police officer," said Sibanda.
He however, failed to pay back the money until Dube lodged a complaint with Chief Insp Chapeyama and he paid back $10.
Brighton Chamhanga allegedly operated within the police anti-stock theft unit in Tsholotsho and duped police officers into believing that he had been sent to investigate corruption within their ranks.
He allegedly told the Officer-in-Charge ZRP Tsholotsho, Chief Inspector Chapeyama that he had been assigned by the officer commanding Lupane, Chief Superintendent Johannes Govo, to investigate corruption cases.
As a result, police were allegedly afraid to verify his credentials.
Bulawayo magistrate Batanai Tuwe discharged Chamhanga at the close of the State Case saying it had failed to prove the commission of the crime beyond any reasonable doubt.
"The accused is therefore found not guilty of the charges levelled against him and is acquitted at the close of the State Case," he said.
Sikhumbuzo Sibanda, for the State, alleged that Chamhanga had access to some sensitive police documents while operating within the force.
"Chamhanga approached Chief Insp Chapeyama and informed him that he had been assigned by the officer commanding Lupane, Chief Superintendent Johannes Govo, to investigate corruption cases involving stock. He used that to have access to stock clearance forms which are security items," said Sibanda.
He said sometime in July last year, Chamhanga accompanied Constable Nomalanga Mkhwananzi to clear cattle bought by Anele Mkhwananzi at Ntulani Line.
"It was then that Constable Mkhwananzi became aware that Chamhanga had introduced himself to the stock buyer as a police officer. Chamhanga accompanied another police officer to clear stock and he introduced himself as a police officer," said Sibanda.
"Chamhanga also accompanied Isabel Mahachi in search of a beast in Nanda Njube Line and introduced himself as a police officer holding a high rank under CID Stock theft Tsholotsho. A Tsholotsho family also approached him seeking advice on bail application and he demanded $50 to facilitate the bail application. He also allegedly questioned some cattle buyers, saying he was a police officer.
"He went on to sign a stock clearance form but didn't endorse his force number as is a requirement by police officers when signing official documents," Sibanda said of an incident that led to the alleged fake cop's arrest.
He said on August 8 last year at around 6PM at Tsholotsho Business Centre, Chamhanga approached one Lillian Dube and introduced himself as a police officer.
"He went on to state that he had been recently transferred from ZRP Mutare and intended to transport his refrigerator to Tsholotsho though he had no money. Chamhanga then asked Dube to lend him $30 and she sent it via EcoCash believing him to be a police officer," said Sibanda.
He however, failed to pay back the money until Dube lodged a complaint with Chief Insp Chapeyama and he paid back $10.
Source - chronicle
