A Harare magistrate has sentenced an employee at the Registrar-General’s Office to five years in jail after finding him guilty of conning a passport seeker of US$320.
Harare provincial magistrate Yeukai Chigodora ruled that Jowwett Zinyemba (48), who was stationed at the Passport Office will, however, serve 16 months in prison if he paid back the US$320 to his fraud victim Dorcas Mazokera before or on March 13.
The incident that led to Zinyemba’s trial and conviction occurred on January 6 this year at around 7 am.
State prosecutor Strike Matongora said Zinyemba approached Madzokera who wanted to apply for her child’s passport and promised her that he could facilitate the process for a US$320 “fee”.
After receiving the money, Zinyemba disappeared and Madzokere reported the matter to the police leading to the former’s arrest outside Makombe Building.
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