NYASHA MARUMBI
MUTARE CITY-Three notorious fraudsters, infamous for using fake US$100 notes to buy groceries, alcohol and vegetables in local markets were on Sunday, 1 September arrested following a tip off by one of the victims.
Speaking to The Midweek Watch, Manicaland Province police deputy spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka said Moreblessing Musviba a female aged 32 of Kuwadzana 6, Fortune Banda(48) of Unit M Chitungwiza and Tinashe Maravanyika (34) of Mutondo Highfield were arrested for using fake US$ notes.
The trio was arrested following a tip off from Arnold Gombakomba, a victim of the trio’s shenanigans after he had identified the Toyota Fortuner the fraudsters were using passing by.
The police followed the car with registration number AEF 5723 leaving Dangamvura Shopping center to Legacy Lodge.
They followed suspects using Gombakomba’s vehicle.
At around 7:30pm police ordered the trio to surrender as they had encircled the lodge and managed to arrest them while the fourth suspect escaped into the darkness.
The police recovered the vehicle and escorted the accused to Dangamvura Police station, they also searched the vehicle and recovered 2 pockets of potatoes that they had bought using fake US$100 in Macheke.
They also discovered that they had tempered with the number plates where they scratched the original number plate from AEW 5723 to AEF 5723 using black and yellow insulation tape.
The police also found out that the fraudsters had many other reported cases reported at Sakubva and Chikanga police stations and Bulawayo with a cumulative of 24 counts so far.
“We advise the public to always check for security features on cash before accepting it for transactions and also report to the police when one comes across fake cash,” said Chinyoka.
