2 B/bridge traffic cops on the run

TWO Beitbridge traffic policemen are on the run after they allegedly stole money paid by offenders for violating traffic rules, NewsDay can report.

According to a leaked internal memo, Tinashe Chatseta and Gift Marange doctored figures in fine books in order to steal US$345 and R3 730.

Chatseta got US$205 and R2 830 while Marange allegedly stole the remainder.

It is understood that their boss Clever Barikano discovered the fraud on February 2 this year.

The ZRP ordered an audit of the fines receipt books following a similar fraudulent incident in Gweru.

“Circumstances are that on 2 February 2024 at around 0800 hours Inspector Clever Barikano went through record books.

“He discovered twentythree [23] cases where Tinashe Chatseta and Gift Marange wrote different figures on Z69J fast and duplicate copies as compared to the other two copies of the same serial number,” read the memo.

The two wrote trivial offences and receipted amounts less than the actual charge which appeared on the original issued to the offender.

They pocketed the difference.

For instance, where someone paid a fine of US$30, they allegedly made out a receipt of the amount on the original copy they gave the offender but doctored the duplicates to reflect US$5.

“In this case they would write less amount for a trivial offences on the fast and duplicate copies, yet they would have charged the offenders with a serious offences requiring a higher fines. Therefore,

as a result, the accused took the difference and converted the amount to his own use,” read the memo which tabulated the figures.

After the discovery of the offence, a report was made at ZRP Beitbridge Urban.