By A Correspondent- A 27 year old police impersonator has been jailed for 40 months in prison for robbing a banana vendor of his hard-earned cash.
Tariro Chigwedu robbed Talent Mabanjira of US$1 and ZWL $100 on two different occasions while claiming to be a police officer.
It is in the States case that on the 6th of January 2021, the Chigwedu approached Mabanjira at TM Hyper while he was busy selling his bananas.
Chigwedu who was eager to swindle Mabanjira of his hard-earned cash is alleged to have informed Mabanjira that he was a police officer based at Drill Hall and was attached at the license inspectorate.
After that, Chigwedu allegedly went on to inform Mabanjira that he was under arrest for selling bananas during the enforced lockdown period.
He said for him to be released he had to pay a US$3 fine, to which Mabanjira told him he had only US$1. The accused is alleged to have accepted the US$1 from Mabanjira and dashed off after receiving the money.
Believing that he had discovered an easy way to make money, the court heard that Chigwedu returned to TM hyper and found Mabanjira busy selling his bananas, he once again stopped him and demanded cash while also claiming to be a police officer.
The unsuspecting Talent gave him $100 after that he left in a hurry.
However, on 23 January things changed for Chigwedu, he went back to TM hyper and used the same modus operandi to swindle Mabanjira, but Mabanjira demanded to see his ZRP identity card first.
After he failed to produce it, Mabanjira called passersby who helped him in apprehending Chigwedu. They took him to a police station leading to his arrest.
Chigwedu appeared before Tredgold courts magistrate Stephen Ndlovu and pleaded guilty to two counts of impersonation
In passing his sentence, magistrate Stephen Ndlovu Tariro condoned Chigwedu’s behavior saying;
“You must be ashamed of yourself for dragging the name of the police force into the mud by extorting innocent civilians while masquerading in borrowed robes of our esteemed police force, therefore you deserve a custodial sentence.”
He was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison, however, eight months were suspended on condition of good behavior. He will effectively serve 40 months behind bars.BMetro