Fraudster poses as prosecutor, sells get out of jail cards

A Bulawayo man, Tawanda Moyo, also known as Tawanda Siziba, has appeared in court facing five counts of fraud for allegedly masquerading as a public prosecutor and prison officer to defraud families of inmates. Moyo appeared before Bulawayo Provincial Magistrate Richard Ramaboea, who remanded him in custody until February 5 after dismissing his bail application.

The prosecution, led by Milton Moyo, argued that the accused is a serial offender who uses multiple identities, posing a high risk of re-offending. "He posed as a public prosecutor and, on other occasions, masqueraded as a prison officer while defrauding community members using different surnames. If bail is granted, who exactly are we granting bail to?" Mr Moyo told the court.

The court heard that the accused targeted relatives of inmates on remand, exploiting their desperation by claiming he could secure their release in exchange for money. On November 21, 2024, he allegedly approached Ms Sibusisiwe Mutambo, offering to help release her husband from remand in exchange for US$120, which she sent via EcoCash. Moyo, claiming to be a prison officer at Bulawayo Prison, allegedly failed to deliver on the promise, prompting the complainant to report the matter to the police.

In another instance on February 19 last year, Moyo allegedly contacted Master Ngwenya, claiming to be a public prosecutor handling the case of Ngwenya's sons. He reportedly demanded US$215 in instalments for their release, before becoming evasive after receiving payments. Ngwenya later discovered Moyo was not a prosecutor, leading to a police report.

Additional cases include allegations that Moyo defrauded Ms Senzo Ngwenya of US$174 on July 1, 2024, and Distance Ncube of US$250 on November 21, 2024, both times posing as a prison officer and providing false contacts for court officials.

Records show that Moyo has a criminal history, having been arrested in January 2023 for theft of trust property under the name Tawanda Siziba. The current case came to light when the Police Anti-Corruption Unit (PACU) arrested Moyo and recovered documents, including a court subpoena and a national identity card bearing different names, supporting allegations of his use of multiple identities for fraudulent activities.

The matter is ongoing.