News / National
Fingerprints don't lie, detective tells court
18 Apr 2016 at 07:13hrs | Views
A fingerprint expert has exposed an ex-convict who used different names to swindle people in an EcoCash scam.
Detective Assistant Inspector Owen Chiwara on Friday proved to the court that Givemore Tapera (36) used another name, Samuel Mhaka, and was once convicted of another charge in Mutare under the name Mhaka.
"Fingerprints never change and carry a sense of individuality. Fingerprints develop when the foetus is three months in the womb and are the last thing to disappear when a person dies. A person can change names a hundred times, we are not worried," said Detective Asst Insp Chiwara.
Tapera demanded a different witness arguing Detective Asst Insp Chiwara was too junior.
Provincial magistrate Mr Vakayi Chikwewe dismissed the application saying it was more like saying a junior magistrate cannot try a case.
Tapera's lawyer, Mr Simon Chabuka, asked Detective Asst Insp Chiwara what he used to analyse the fingerprints.
The cop said he used a magnifying glass and a comparator because the fingerprints do not require sophisticated tools. The gallery was left in stitches after Mr Chabuka asked the fingerprint expert when the tools he used were last calibrated.
"They are just the same only that the comparator needs light to be applied," said Detective Asst Insp Chiwara.
Tapera is jointly charged with Willard Jonhasi (33), Liberty (28) and Trymore Gata (32). The four allegedly registered cellphone lines in the names of senior police officers, Government officials, magistrates and journalists.
They used the lines to swindle unsuspecting people of over $7 000.
Prosecutor Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa alleged that during the period between January 1 and April 10 2016, the gang hatched a plan to extort members of ZRP, Government officials and the public.
They bought Econet lines, which they went on to fraudulently register for EcoCash accounts in the names of senior police officers, Government officials, magistrates and journalists. On different occasions, the four called the complainants and identified themselves as either the police, journalists or Government officials before demanding cash.
The complainants lost $7 500 and nothing was recovered.
Detective Assistant Inspector Owen Chiwara on Friday proved to the court that Givemore Tapera (36) used another name, Samuel Mhaka, and was once convicted of another charge in Mutare under the name Mhaka.
"Fingerprints never change and carry a sense of individuality. Fingerprints develop when the foetus is three months in the womb and are the last thing to disappear when a person dies. A person can change names a hundred times, we are not worried," said Detective Asst Insp Chiwara.
Tapera demanded a different witness arguing Detective Asst Insp Chiwara was too junior.
Provincial magistrate Mr Vakayi Chikwewe dismissed the application saying it was more like saying a junior magistrate cannot try a case.
Tapera's lawyer, Mr Simon Chabuka, asked Detective Asst Insp Chiwara what he used to analyse the fingerprints.
The cop said he used a magnifying glass and a comparator because the fingerprints do not require sophisticated tools. The gallery was left in stitches after Mr Chabuka asked the fingerprint expert when the tools he used were last calibrated.
"They are just the same only that the comparator needs light to be applied," said Detective Asst Insp Chiwara.
Tapera is jointly charged with Willard Jonhasi (33), Liberty (28) and Trymore Gata (32). The four allegedly registered cellphone lines in the names of senior police officers, Government officials, magistrates and journalists.
They used the lines to swindle unsuspecting people of over $7 000.
Prosecutor Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa alleged that during the period between January 1 and April 10 2016, the gang hatched a plan to extort members of ZRP, Government officials and the public.
They bought Econet lines, which they went on to fraudulently register for EcoCash accounts in the names of senior police officers, Government officials, magistrates and journalists. On different occasions, the four called the complainants and identified themselves as either the police, journalists or Government officials before demanding cash.
The complainants lost $7 500 and nothing was recovered.
Source - the herald
