The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Correspondent
A SECURITY guard and a cleaner employed by a local bank allegedly stole a client’s ATM card before withdrawing thousands of dollars from his account.
Takesure Chasukwa (47) and Silas Bvumbe (31) both denied the theft charges when they appeared before Mutare magistrate, Ms Audrey Muzhingi last week.
They were being charged with contravening Section 167 (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.
They were remanded in custody to March 2. Mr Kangai Tiriwamambo represented the State. Chasukwa is a security guard stationed at POSB, Mutare Branch, while Bvumbe is a cleaner at the same bank.
They allegedly withdrew $35 164 Mr John Tadzara’s bank account and bought US$291 which they shared.
The court heard that Chasukwa stole the ATM card on January 11 after Mr Tadzara had asked him to assist him to make a withdrawal at an ATM machine at the bank.
It was alleged that instead of using Mr Tadzara’s card on the ATM, Chasukwa used Catherine Kafumu’s card, which he had in his possession.
He remained with Mr Tadzara’s card.
The theft was discovered the following day when Mr Tadzara tried to buy some groceries.
He was told that the ATM card he wanted to use belonged to Kafumu, prompting him to make a police report.
Police’s investigations led them to Chasukwa who was found in possession of the card. He implicated Bvumbe leading to their arrest.
“After stealing the card, Chasukwa handed it over to Bvumbe the following day, together with the secret pin number. Bvumbe proceeded to buy two loaves of bread at OK Supermarket before approaching an airtime dealer, Stella Simon in search of American dollars.
“Simon gave Bvumbe US$291 in exchange of $35 000 after she had used the card at Econet Shop to buy airtime. Bvumbe surrendered the card and US$259 back to Chasukwa,” said Mr Kangai. Nothing was recovered.
