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Shamiso Dzingire Chronicle Reporter
POLICE in Bulawayo have arrested a registrar of the High Court and the Assistant Sheriff for allegedly conning a resident of $300.

The Assistant Sheriff, Prosper Moyo, 26, and Moses Mketiwa Muna, 47, allegedly connived to issue a fake receipt to Henry Mhlanga, 50, who was seeking a confirmation letter for a property he purchased through an auction organised on behalf of the Sheriff of the High Court.

The police fraud squad swooped on the duo in their offices at the Old Post Office building on Friday afternoon.

Investigators are reportedly following leads as it is suspected that scores of other people could have lost thousands of dollars in similar scams.

Muna allegedly supplied the fake receipt that Moyo issued to Mhlanga.

Mhlanga reported the case at Bulawayo Central Police Station on Friday and it was recorded under CR 242/08/15.

He declined to speak to the Press yesterday, saying: “I don’t want to talk about the issue.”

Sources close to investigations told The Chronicle that Moyo on Thursday, misrepresented to Mhlanga that there was a shortfall of $300 on the transaction of a house which he purchased in Gweru through an auction.

“On Thursday last week, Mhlanga approached the Sheriff’s offices in the city centre intending to collect a confirmation letter for the house he purchased in Gweru.

“Whilst at the offices, he met one Precious Ruzive, who referred him to Moyo who was out of office,” said the source.

The source said Ruzive told Mhlanga that Moyo said he would issue him with the letter at 2PM that very day and that he must pay $300 administration fees.

“Mhlanga, who didn’t have the money on his person, went to the bank to withdraw the money and returned to the Sheriff’s offices on Friday, where he met Moyo at the door.”

The source said Moyo handed Mhlanga the confirmation letter and a receipt with the number 710424KK.

Mhlanga allegedly insisted on paying the money at the reception but Moyo told him he should pay the money directly to him since he had already written the receipt for him.

Suspicious of the transaction, Mhlanga allegedly approached the Additional Sheriff, Elijah Murirai Magara and aired his complaints and produced the receipt as proof of payment.

“Magara rushed to the accounts department to verify the authenticity of the receipt. Upon his return, Magara informed Mhlanga that the receipt he was issued was fake and that he wasn’t supposed to pay anything to get the confirmation letter,” said another source.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango could not comment on the issue yesterday saying she was in Harare.

She referred questions to her deputy Assistant Inspector Abednico Ncube, who could not be reached on his mobile phone.