Hazel Marimbiza

in BULAWAYO

A MPOPOMA man has appeared in court for masquerading as a public prosecutor and swindling a woman of US$500 after promising to facilitate the discharge of her jailed husband.

Brian Pfumayi, 36 was remanded in custody to April 22 by Bulawayo magistrate Tavengwa Sangster for allegedly conning Edith Dzambara.

The court heard that on October 11, 2021 Pfumayi approached Dzambara pretending to be a public prosecutor and told her that he could assist in getting her husband, Bekithemba Kwidi, out of prison.

According to the State, Pfumayi then referred Dzambara to a lawyer, Belinda Khuphe who charged her US$200.

It was further claimed Pfumayi collected the US$200 from one Thabitha Kwidi.

The court also heard that on October 13, 2021, Pfumayi further demanded US$300 for him to speed up Kwidi’s release process.

He allegedly assured Dzambara that the process would take a maximum of three days before Kwidi could be released.

The State alleged that Pfumayi then told Thabitha that he was supposed to submit papers of Bekithemba’s release to the High Court.

He, however, failed to send the papers to the High Court prompting Thabitha to be suspicious.

She then approached the provincial public prosecutor at Treadgold magistrates courts on October 12, 2021, and that is when it was discovered that Pfumayi was not a public prosecutor.

The State said the matter was then reported to police at Tredgold magistrate court, leading to the arrest of Pfumayi and the recovery of US$300 which the accused handed over when he was apprehended.