BY SILAS NKALA BULAWAYO – A traffic police officer who converted fines from three motorists amounting to US$50 was last week hauled before the courts facing fraud charges.
Petro Shoko (36) who is based at ZRP Kezi in Matabeleland South allegedly committed the offences in November last year while still stationed in Lupane, the Matabeleland North capital.
He appeared before Lupane magistrate Richard Ramaboa facing three counts of fraud.
Ramaboa granted him US$100 bail and remanded him to February 10 for continuation of the trial.
Prosecutor Tawanda Tsatsa told the court that Shoko arrested Joel Moyo, Luku Muchirawondo and Brighton Moyo between November 14 and 28 last year for speeding along the Bulawayo – Victoria Falls high way.
He made them pay fines of between US$10 and US$20 and used a fake receipt book. The state would seek to prove that he pocketed the fines.
