Zim Now Writer
A Zimbabwe Revenue Authority official was yesterday sentenced to a wholly suspended jail term by Gweru magistrate Progress Murandu after convicting her of criminal abuse of office.
Mercy Dzvuke, 48, a Zimra liaison officer based in Gweru, was accused of extorting US$500 from medical doctor Thomas Ndebele, who had outstanding tax returns.
Murandu sentenced Dzvuke to 18 months and suspended nine months on condition of good behaviour.
The remaining nine months were set aside on condition that she completes 315 hours of community service at Ascot Secondary School.
The community service commences today.
The State's case was that on August 2 last year, Dzvuke and Alfred Gwara were conducting compliance checks on tax returns when they visited Ndebele's surgery.
The duo told Ndebele that failure to submit returns attracted a heavy penalty.
Ndebele asked for more time to compile and submit the tax returns, the court heard.
They then advised Ndebele to engage a tax consultant only identified as Nyanhete.
The court further heard that while they were negotiating, Dzvuke solicited for US$500 so that she could delete the penalties in the Zimra systems.
Ndebele, however, told her that he did not have the money to meet the demand but Dzvuke did not give up, allegedly making a follow-up on the bribe in mid-August.
Ndebele, according to the court, reported y6to Zimra head office and the organisation tasked Crispen Marengano and Sympathy Chipise to investigate.
The Zimra officials engaged the Criminal Investigation Department in Gweru and set a trap.
On September 1, police asked Ndebele to call Dzvuke advising her to come and collect US$250 and Dzvuke went to the surgery to collect the money, but was intercepted by detectives on her way outside.
In her defence during trial, Dzvuke, who was being represented by Reginald Chidawanyika, said she collected the money on behalf of Nyanhete to assist Ndebele comply with the Zimra tax systems.
Monica Mungweni prosecuted.
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