A BULAWAYO man suspected to be part of a syndicate that is
fraudulently selling people’s houses was found with 32 national identity cards
which he is suspected to have been using to illegally process property sales.
Thulani Ncube is being charged with 70 counts of being
found in possession of articles used to commit crime.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube in an
interview yesterday, said Ncube was assisting police in the Commercial Crimes
Division with investigations as he had over 70 pending High Court applications
involving a number of properties in the city.
“A man purporting to be Thulani Ncube around 40 years of
age was arrested by police when he was found in possession of over 32 national
identity documents belonging to various people who are property owners. This
man was making some applications for houses. He would either obtain illegal
identity documents, forge signatures and particulars in respect of the houses
that he would target for sale to unsuspecting home seekers,” said Inspector
Ncube.
Ncube would allegedly approach the High Court for eviction
orders so that he would make occupants vacate premises that he would have
earmarked for sale.
He targeted properties whose owners are in the diaspora,
especially where tenants do not know the owner of the house and rental payments
are made to relatives or put in bank accounts.
“He would make applications to the High Court and pay fees
of up to $50 so that he gets the application to evict the occupants of the
houses. He has since been arrested and is assisting police with investigations.
We are calling upon members of the public to come to CID Commercial Crimes
Division to check on those IDs and if ever you see one that is yours, we work
on the issues,” Inspector Ncube said.
“This also goes to property owners as there are a number of
properties that have been listed as having been sold by fictitious people who
do not even exist. They use stolen IDs to process the transactions.”
Inspector Ncube said the Commercial Crimes Division was
looking into how Ncube may have been acquiring the IDs after noticing that most
of them looked new.
“We are still investing how he actually got those IDs
because some look fairly new, indicating that he may be writing some affidavits
or obtaining in his own name some of the IDs, and is targeting only those who
own properties that he envies. Investigations are in progress,” said Inspector
Ncube.
An online search showed the suspect uses the name Thulani
Ncube on Facebook. There was only one picture and very few posts. Chronicle
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