Woman duped by fake judge

Michael Mashiri

Kuwadzana man impersonated a High Court judge to steal money from members of the public with cases before the courts

Beven Chipunza, 33, of Kuwadzana 3 was at the Harare Magistrates' Court facing charges of impersonating a public official and extortion, contravening Sections 179 and 134 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, Chapter 9:23 respectively.

The court heard that on December 14, 2020, the complainant reported a case of kidnapping and extortion against Allen Dzobo, Evidence Fatah, Lienol Mlambo and Ackim Gunda.

The accused persons were arrested and taken to court. On 22 November 2021 all the accused persons were acquitted at the close of the state case.

On 26 January 2023, the complainant received a WhatsApp message from Chipunza's mobile number, to the effect that there were summons in his office at Harare Civil Court made by Ackim Gunda.

Chipunza sent a picture of the summons to the complainant and invited her to Harare Civil Court and they met in a court room where he introduced himself as a junior judge and showed the complainant the summons.

Chipunza told that he could help the complainant to have the case dismissed. He also promised to process an appeal against the judgment which was given at Harare Magistrate Court.

He told the complainant that he had links with Mr. Mutsonziwa of the National Prosecution Authority and would fast track the process.

Chipunza went with the complainant and her husband to the NPA offices where they met another man at the entrance of the building who introduced himself as Mr Mutsonziwa’s PA.

The unidentified male said that Mr Mutsonziwa wanted US$500 to process the appeal which complainant paid.

On January 30, 2023 Chipunza called the complainant again on her mobile phone requesting US$350 to fast track the appeal process.

The complainant advised Chipunza that she did not have such an amount and negotiated Chipunza down to US$160.

US$60 was for the retrieval of the record and US$100 was for one Mr. Gumbo allegedly an NPA official.

On January 31, the complainant received intelligence that Chipunza was not a court official neither was he a judge.

On the same date at around 23:50 hours, Chipunza sent the complainant a message and a voice note on WhatsApp requesting for a meeting at The High Court of Zimbabwe on February 1, at 1100 hours so that she could hand over the US$160.

The complainant reported the matter to the police and a trap was set leading to the arrest of Chipunza.

Chipunza was arrested with the US$160 trap money in his hand.

Chipunza appeared before magistrate Dennis Mangosi who remanded him in custody to 7 February 2023.