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16 Zimbabwe passport office employees face trial over passport scam
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The trial of 16 Registrar-General officers accused of fraudulently issuing passports to four Cameroonian nationals will commence on December 18 at the Harare regional magistrate's court.
The accused officers, who are facing charges of criminal abuse of office as public officers, will appear before magistrate Taurai Mamiwere for a two-day trial.
The accused include Tafadzwa Chiundiza, Leona Patience Fungai, Neria Sombi, Trymore Chipanga, Acid Asidi, Ruramai Mhlanga, Maureen Natasha Munemo, Chiedza Hlomani, Romio Shonhiwa, Marian Roman, Tanaka Lisaphael Magaya, Edith Moto, Grace Kapungu, Lackmore Chinokokora, Tapiwanashe Hove, and Sean Takunda Makuku. They are represented by Tafadzwa Muvhami.
The State's case, as presented by Prosecutor Mercy Masamvi, details how the accused, acting in concert, processed Zimbabwean passports for four Cameroonian nationals - Duma Ebako Christiana Boyombe (39), Yvette Kum Noam (24), Marvel Ngeyi Tegha (28), and Emile Muya Muya (23) - at the Civil Registry Department's Passport Office in Harare on September 17.
According to the evidence presented by investigating officer Christopher Lloyd Tarenyika, the officers allegedly printed two sets of passports for the Cameroonians, with three passports still unaccounted for. The investigation revealed that the officers conspired to expedite the passport processing, charging the Cameroonians US$3,200 for the service and manipulating the system to produce passports in just two days, instead of the normal seven.
The incident came to light when the Cameroonian nationals were arrested at the Beitbridge Border Post on September 21, enroute to South Africa. Authorities became suspicious when the group could not speak any of the country's official languages.
The 16 accused officers remain in custody as they await trial, which is expected to draw significant attention due to the high-profile nature of the alleged fraud.
The accused officers, who are facing charges of criminal abuse of office as public officers, will appear before magistrate Taurai Mamiwere for a two-day trial.
The accused include Tafadzwa Chiundiza, Leona Patience Fungai, Neria Sombi, Trymore Chipanga, Acid Asidi, Ruramai Mhlanga, Maureen Natasha Munemo, Chiedza Hlomani, Romio Shonhiwa, Marian Roman, Tanaka Lisaphael Magaya, Edith Moto, Grace Kapungu, Lackmore Chinokokora, Tapiwanashe Hove, and Sean Takunda Makuku. They are represented by Tafadzwa Muvhami.
The State's case, as presented by Prosecutor Mercy Masamvi, details how the accused, acting in concert, processed Zimbabwean passports for four Cameroonian nationals - Duma Ebako Christiana Boyombe (39), Yvette Kum Noam (24), Marvel Ngeyi Tegha (28), and Emile Muya Muya (23) - at the Civil Registry Department's Passport Office in Harare on September 17.
According to the evidence presented by investigating officer Christopher Lloyd Tarenyika, the officers allegedly printed two sets of passports for the Cameroonians, with three passports still unaccounted for. The investigation revealed that the officers conspired to expedite the passport processing, charging the Cameroonians US$3,200 for the service and manipulating the system to produce passports in just two days, instead of the normal seven.
The incident came to light when the Cameroonian nationals were arrested at the Beitbridge Border Post on September 21, enroute to South Africa. Authorities became suspicious when the group could not speak any of the country's official languages.
The 16 accused officers remain in custody as they await trial, which is expected to draw significant attention due to the high-profile nature of the alleged fraud.
Source - newsday
