Translator in court on allegations of duping Chine...

Translator in court on allegations of duping Chinese nationals with fake employment permits

Michael Mashiri

A man working as translator allegedly defrauded two Chinese nationals after giving them fake temporary employment permit confirmation letters, has been taken to court.

Brighton Silent Mutete, 30, appeared before magistrate Ethel Chichera facing forgery charges.

The State, through prosecutor Rufaro Chonzi, alleges that on October 17, 2023, Chinese nationals, Fan Zeng Qiang and Lian Hongya sought the services of a Chinese translator, one Brighton Silent Mutete, as they wanted help in processing their immigration paper work, company registration and Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency applications.

Mutete introduced the two Chinese nationals to one Terrence Ndlovhu whom he referred to as his friend “Prince”, claiming he worked as an agent for the Department of Immigration.

It is alleged that on the same date Mutete, who was working with Terrence Ndlovhu, collected US$1 500 from a Chinese national, claiming it was a deposit for processing their work permits.

It is alleged that they took the Chinese's passports, saying they were required by the Department of Immigration to endorse the temporary employment permit.

In October, it is alleged Mutete, together with Ndlovhu, called the complainants and met them at the Department of Immigration offices.

The accused gave the Chinese nationals confirmation letters, claiming they had been originated from the Department of Immigration and served as a confirmation that the complainant’s applications for temporary employment permits had been approved.

It is alleged that on October 13, 2023, immigration officers were informed that the Chinese were in possession of forged temporary employment permit confirmation letters.

When the documents were analysed, it was established that the documents did not appear in the Chinese national immigrants’ file at the Immigration Department.

More investigations established that Ndlovhu still had the victims' passports.

On November 14, 2023, Mutete was contacted to bring the passports and was handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department.

During interviews, Mutete implicated one Ndlovu as having facilitated the production of the two confirmations of temporary employment permits for the two Chinese nationals.

Mutete was ordered to deposit US$50 as bail and will appear in court on February 15.