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Sukulwenkosi Dube, Plumtree Correspondent
A PLUMTREE traffic police officer has been arraigned for allegedly stealing $205 and R640 that he collected as fines.

Clacious Chatikobo, 26, collected the money and receipted it but did not hand it over to Plumtree Police Station, a court heard.

He is suspected to have later removed the charge sheets where he had recorded the payments.

The offence came to light after the Officer-in-Charge of Plumtree Traffic Police carried out an audit of the station retention books.

Chatikibo yesterday appeared on initial remand before Plumtree magistrate Gideon Ruvetsa facing theft charges.

He was remanded out of custody to May 26 on free bail.

Prosecuting, Elisha Mazorodze said Chatikobo diverted State funds to his personal use.

He said the traffic cop, who stays in Bulawayo, later made efforts to repay the money.

“On a date unknown but during the period extending from February 18 to March 15, Chatikobo together with Constable Garikai Manyera, were deployed to the Plumtree Vehicle Inspection Depot to carry out vehicle inspection duties. They were issued with retention books where they were supposed to receipt money which they collected,” he said.

Mazorodze said Chatikobo receipted $205 and R640 but did not hand it over at the station.

He said on May 5, the Officer-in-Charge, Inspector Takaidza Julius, carried out an audit of the station retention books and discovered that some of the charge sheets of the books which Chatikobo and his colleague had used were missing.

Mazorodze said Insp Julius instigated an investigation with the ZRP Plumtree Traffic Station banking records and Bulilima Mangwe District finance office to ascertain whether the money was banked and he discovered that it was not.

“The investigation later revealed that Chatikobo had converted the money to his personal use. On May 7, Chatikobo brought from his home some copies of the missing charge sheets and surrendered them at the station.

“On 8 May, he paid $200 and on 9 May paid another $5 and R640 as reimbursement for the misappropriated funds resulting in his immediate arrest,” he said.