ZIMBABWE – BULAWAYO – TWO Zimbabwean men based in South Africa were arrested on Friday night after being found in possession of a ward of fake South African Rand.
They had allegedly bought the fake currency in South Africa, where a R1 000 worth of fake notes is reportedly selling for R400.The two were arrested at Miriam’s Bar in Bulawayo and were found in possession of 500 fake R200 notes and 193 fake R100 notes.
The notes had a combined value of R129 000. In an interview yesterdaythe Officer In Charge of the Criminal Investigations Department’s Homicide Section, Detective Inspector Wonderful Chaparral, said the suspects, aged 26 and 42, were raided after police received a tip-off from an anonymous caller.
The caller informed police that the two could have been criminals as they were going about telling other patrons that they could fraudulently clear cars, said Det Insp Chaparira.
“They were picked up while drinking beer and on being searched they were found in possession of the fake money. The money was in an Absa bank sachet which was stashed in a portfolio,” he said.
Det Insp Chaparira said the suspects revealed that they had entered the country, through the Beitbridge Border Post on Thursday.They allegedly told the police that they wanted to use the fake currency to buy United States of America dollars in Zambia, where they are readily available.
The suspects had not used the money to buy beer from the bar and a check by the police revealed that the cashiers had not received any fake currency.“On being questioned, they revealed that they had bought the fake money in South Africa where R1 000 of the fake currency is selling for R400,” said Det Insp Chaparira.
Although the fake money is made of thicker paper and is slightly discoloured compared to the legitimate South African currency, it had most features of the genuine notes.
Meanwhile, A suspected gang of three Bulawayo men is on the prowl cheating residents by exchanging fake United States dollars.One of the victims, Mr Peter Tshuma said he fell prey to the trio when he boarded their vehicle into town yesterday morning.
“I gave them US$5 dollars as my fare but they delayed giving me change until we got into town at TM Hyper. When I was disembarking, the trio then gave me a fake US$5 note. I only realised that I had been given fake money when I had walked for a few metres and the guys had driven away,” he said.
Tshuma said the gang had a bag full of fake US$100, US$50, US$20, US$10 and US$5 note.“It looks like the men are going around cheating people whom they would have given transport from the suburbs into town and they say they do not have change and then say they are giving you back your money.
They actually have a bag full of fake US$ notes. Many people are crying because they have lost out,” he said.
Mr Tshuma said the three men drive a South African registered Isuzu twin cab and have been swindling unsuspected residents in the past week.“I would like to advice other residents to be careful when dealing with three men who are driving a white Isuzu twin cab with South African registration.
It feels bad to be cheated of our hard earned cash,” he said.However, Tshuma did not make a report to the police
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