A ZIMBABWEAN national allegedly masqueraded as a Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) official and defrauded a citizen of over 80 000 pula.
According to media reports in Botswana last week, Walter Chizivisano (33) was arrested on January 17 by officers in Molepolole, having been on the run for 20 months after committing the offence.
Chizivisano, who is being charged with theft, appeared at the Francis Town Magistrates Court last Thursday, where he informed the court that he intended to engage an attorney to represent him.
He is alleged to have scammed Baboloki Khakhe (67) of P82 000 posing as a BTC employee in a phone conversation.
Chizivisano reportedly tricked her into providing her Standard Chartered banking details over the phone, before withdrawing P82 441,70 from her account.
The matter was reported on June 7, 2024 but police investigations progressed slowly.
However, further inquiries led police to Chizivisano and a warrant for his arrest was issued on December 29 last year.
He was apprehended on January 17.
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During court appearance, prosecutor Gasemotho Pitagano opposed bail, saying investigations were in their early stages and some of the stolen money had not been recovered.
“Since he wants to engage an attorney, he should bring him on the next mention. The accused person is a foreigner with travelling documents, our problem with him being granted bail is that our investigations are at the initial stage,” Pitagano said.
“Part of the proceeds of crime have not been recovered. We plead that he be remanded in custody for seven days while we wait for his attorney.”
Reports indicate that part of the stolen money is yet to be recovered. Chizivisano is believed to have used it to purchase a Honda Fit vehicle.
His bail application was unsuccessful.
In his plea, Chizivisano distanced himself from the crime, claiming that he was not involved.
“I am not the one who stole the money; my name was just used,” he told the court.
According to reports, Khakhe received a call from an unknown number made by an individual claiming to be from BTC, informing her that she had won airtime bundles worth P500.
Initially she was sceptical and told the caller to keep the units.
However, the caller persisted and she eventually gave in, and followed instructions for cellphone banking.
Shortly after, she noticed a huge withdrawal from her account and realised she had been scammed.
