POLICE have busted a four-man-syndicate that was producing
fake national identity cards, drivers’ licences and defensive drivers’
certificates among other documents countrywide.
Police did not release the names of the accused persons but
they reside in Harare. The syndicate’s activities, police said, had far
reaching consequences as companies nationwide may have engaged people to
positions of authority and trust on the basis of forged qualifications.
Speaking during a ZRP Crime Watch programme on ZBC TV,
Officer-in-Charge Harare Crime Prevention Unit (CPU) Inspector James Chimombe
said the suspects are being charged with 15 counts of fraud and 48 counts of
unlawfully possessing national identification cards.
“Police from the CPU received information from the public
that there were criminals who were going around town supplying citizens with
fake driver’s licences, national identity cards, defensive driver’s
certificates and skilled worker certificates.
“The team managed to arrest the accused person who led them
to the office of the perpetrator who was arrested in his office while he was
busy producing some certificates. The team conducted a search and managed to
arrest four accused persons,” he said.
Insp Chimombe said police recovered the materials that they
were using to make the documents and have since taken the case to the
commercial crime unit Harare province for investigations.
He said the criminals were also forging certificates of
skilled worker qualifications duping many corporates and employees.
“We have since checked with the manpower planning and
development board who confirmed that the certificates are forged documents
which poses a risk to our manpower in the country,” Insp Chimombe said.
Officer-in-Charge of the Harare Crime Control Unit (CCU)
Assistant Inspector Blessing Mutumbi said the suspects took original national
identity cards and defaced them, leaving only the security features appearing
on the actual identity card.
“They then superimpose them with information printed on
paper such that one cannot notice that it’s a fake document. These criminals
even use the same font used on actual documents,” he said.
Officer-in-Charge CCU Insp Ngoni Kutadzaushe said police
are engaging the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ), the Central Vehicle
Registry (CVR) and the Registrar General’s office in investigating the case.
“This case has a national impact and many companies and
individuals might have fallen victim to such activities hence we are
intensifying investigations,” he said.
Harare Central and Suburban districts Officer-in-Charge
Insp Joshua Kadungu said the arrest was a milestone achievement for the police.
“We are expecting a decrease in crime as perpetrators have
been held accountable. Anyone who knows people producing such documents should
report to their nearest police station,” he said.
Police urged service providers who will be issuing
documents to members of the public to educate them on the security features
that are found on actual Zimbabwean documents to reduce crimes of this nature.
“We also urge members of the public to go to relevant
offices to access documents because they are duped at unregistered service
providers. Do not to consult any agencies in matters concerning identity
particulars,” he said. Herald
0 comments:
Post a Comment