FIVE police officers based at Chikurubi Camp Clinic in Harare appeared in court yesterday facing fraud charges after they allegedly used police resources for personal gain.
COURT REPORTER
The suspects – Chief Inspector Joshua Gambiza (44), Inspector Mercy Mberi (44), Inspector Alice Carol Sibanda (42), Assistant Inspectors Shamiso Ziki (29) and Sydney Betera (34) – were granted $100 bail each and remanded to October 31 by magistrate Milton Serima.
Prosecutor Sharon Mashavira told the court that sometime between February and September this year, the suspects acting in connivance allegedly entered into a private arrangement with privately-owned laboratories whereby they would receive clients referred by the laboratories for blood samples.
The accused would offer the service using facilities at the police clinic and refer the clients back to the laboratories.
The patients would then pay at the laboratories and the latter would then privately pay the suspects for services rendered.
The State alleges that the cops shared the proceeds after receipting the money in their own private record books and kept the information under wraps. The State alleges that the proper procedure was for all blood samples to be sent to public laboratories at Parirenyatwa Hospital or Premier Service Medical Aid Service for tests.
The alleged racket came to light when the laboratories’ messenger, identified as Vengai Janyamahwe from Greigestone Laboratories, was intercepted after he visited the camp clinic to deliver blood test results and cash amounting to $110 to the suspects.
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Janyamahwe later spilled the beans, leading to the five officers’ arrest.
Some of the money was recovered from the suspects.
