CHINHOYI — Four men, believed to be part of a five-member syndicate, arrested last week for allegedly printing and circulating thousands of counterfeit United States dollars, have appeared in court.
Tayengwa Phiri (25) of Muriel Mine, Thulani Chipembere (29), John Kila (31) and Saustino Jumbe (30) all of Harare were on Tuesday brought before Chinhoyi magistrate Fanny Nyakudya.
The State case is that on May 1 Phiri and Chipembere boarded a Mutorashanga-bound kombi from Harare.
While at the Great Dyke Cross at Mapinga, Phiri bought four litres of fresh milk from one Stella Masango using a fake $10 note serial number JC58357598A and was given $6 change. Soon after the departure of the kombi, the milk vendor realised that the $10 note was fake and alerted the police who intercepted the commuter omnibus, leading to the arrest of the pair who were then found in possession of more counterfeit notes.
The two, the court heard, told the police that they had sourced the notes from Kila and Jumbe in Harare. The court also heard that Kila and Jumbe named Elton Nyamupahondo of Sunningdale as the supplier of the counterfeit money.
Acting on the information, the police swooped on the suspect’s hideout in Sunningdale where $33 000 fake notes, special bond paper and a printer were recovered.
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The search was allegedly conducted in the presence of Nyamupahondo’s housemaid Loveness Chaunoda, as the accused was nowhere to be found.
The accused were remanded in custody to June 4. Clarence Majongosi prosecuted.