Four Zimbabwean men and one South Africa appeared in court yesterday on charges of ste@ling a Toyota Land Cruiser and bringing it into Zimbabwe using fake documents.
The accused are John Laseja Mkonto (37), Sibusiso Mpofu (44), Neabi Maqwawe (39), Raymond Tshabalala (29), and Pholani Nhliziyo (38).
They faced Harare magistrate Mrs. Marehwanazvo Gofa on charges of vehicle th3ft.
According to the court, on August 28, 2024, the group stole a white Toyota Land Cruiser with registration number KLM388NW in Pretoria, South Africa.
They then created fake South African registration documents and a fake Temporary Import Permit in Mkonto’s name.
On September 2, 2024, Mkonto and his accomplices drove the st0len vehicle into Zimbabwe, heading for Harare.
However, at a police roadblock in ZRP Featherston, they were stopped. Mkonto presented the fake documents, but the police quickly noticed discrepancies.
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The vehicle’s registration number on the license disc was KLM388NW, while the fake documents showed KLM389NW.
Additionally, the registration book incorrectly listed the vehicle as a Toyota Hilux.
Realizing that the Temporary Import Permit also had incorrect details, the police arrested the suspects and seized the vehicle.
Detectives from the CID Vehicle Th3ft Squad in Harare took over the investigation.
Further checks revealed that the chassis number on the vehicle did not match the number in the fake registration book. Interpol was contacted, and it was confirmed that the Land Cruiser had been reported stolen in South Africa on August 28, 2024.
The accused were kept in custody and advised to apply for bail at the High Court.
