News / National
Conman stage-manages robbery
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The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has arrested Khumbulani Sibanda (39) for allegedly fabricating a robbery report involving the theft of US$287,000 and an unregistered Toyota Allion vehicle. The incident reportedly took place in Harare on December 11, 2024, with the stolen car later found abandoned in Mutoko.
In a statement, ZRP national spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi revealed that investigations had determined the robbery was a hoax. Sibanda, according to Nyathi, had staged the robbery and traveled to Mutoko by public transport, where he used an identification card from a local bus company to create a false narrative.
"Upon arrival in Mutoko, Sibanda contacted a local business owner, claiming he was interested in purchasing the business's garage in Adbennie for US$900,000. He later told the businessperson that he had been robbed of the money," Nyathi explained.
Further investigations uncovered that Sibanda had gone to great lengths to lend credibility to his fabricated story. He reportedly approached several businesspeople, private security firms, and property owners, asserting that he had significant cash reserves and was interested in purchasing residential and commercial properties in Harare.
To add to the illusion, Sibanda even initiated the sale process with some property owners and hired private security companies to provide cash-in-transit services. His elaborate scheme was designed to gain trust and sympathy from his targets in a bid to manipulate them into handing over money.
Nyathi emphasized that Sibanda's actions were an attempt to exploit the victims' goodwill, with the intention of deceiving them for financial gain. "The suspect's goal in faking the robbery was to exploit the victims' sympathy and manipulate them into giving him money," said Nyathi.
The ZRP has urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities as investigations continue into Sibanda's actions. His arrest serves as a reminder of the lengths to which individuals may go to deceive others for personal gain.
In a statement, ZRP national spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi revealed that investigations had determined the robbery was a hoax. Sibanda, according to Nyathi, had staged the robbery and traveled to Mutoko by public transport, where he used an identification card from a local bus company to create a false narrative.
"Upon arrival in Mutoko, Sibanda contacted a local business owner, claiming he was interested in purchasing the business's garage in Adbennie for US$900,000. He later told the businessperson that he had been robbed of the money," Nyathi explained.
Further investigations uncovered that Sibanda had gone to great lengths to lend credibility to his fabricated story. He reportedly approached several businesspeople, private security firms, and property owners, asserting that he had significant cash reserves and was interested in purchasing residential and commercial properties in Harare.
To add to the illusion, Sibanda even initiated the sale process with some property owners and hired private security companies to provide cash-in-transit services. His elaborate scheme was designed to gain trust and sympathy from his targets in a bid to manipulate them into handing over money.
Nyathi emphasized that Sibanda's actions were an attempt to exploit the victims' goodwill, with the intention of deceiving them for financial gain. "The suspect's goal in faking the robbery was to exploit the victims' sympathy and manipulate them into giving him money," said Nyathi.
The ZRP has urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities as investigations continue into Sibanda's actions. His arrest serves as a reminder of the lengths to which individuals may go to deceive others for personal gain.
Source - NewZimbabwe
