THE young brother of Warriors’ fringe player Philip Marufu is on the run as investigations into one of the biggest emergency travel documents scam to hit the Midlands widens. Police in Gweru have seized three vehicles belonging to Marufu — a former Dynamos’ striker — on suspicion that the cars were acquired through the proceeds of criminal activities.
The motor vehicles — a Nissan Sunny, a Honda and Mitsubishi Chariot were impounded by the Criminal Investigation Department a fortnight ago.
Marufu is currently based in the Democratic Republic Congo where he plays for Lubumbashi’s FC Saint Eloi Lupopo.
Inspector Patrick Chademana, the Midlands’ police spokesperson told Standardsport that the police were keen to interview Marufu’s young brother.
Chademana could not say whether the police are keen to interview Philip Marufu. The player moved to DRC in January this year from Dynamos together with Carrington Gomba, Ephraim Mazarura and Mtshumayeli Moyo.
“We launched investigation into Philip Marufu’s conduct in the case. We have also impounded his vehicles,” Chademana said.
More than 10 500 emergency travel documents went missing at the Gweru Passport Office in September last year, in a scam that saw several officers at the provincial registrar’s office being arrested.
Police suspect the vehicles seized at Philip Marufu’s Southdowns home in Gweru could have been bought using proceeds from the sale of the emergency travel documents.
Marufu’s young brother Trust initially handed himself to the police before disappearing.
Police suspect an emergency travel document syndicate is operating in the Midlands targeting desperate travellers.
Several people have been arrested at Beitbridge border post for possession of fake emergency travel documents reportedly originating from the Gweru syndicate.

BY FANUEL VIRIRI

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