Spread This NewsBy Staff Reporter A 36-year-old habitual fraudster, who operated under multiple fake names, has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for stealing cars from various car rental companies.The offender, Christen Nketa alias Last Mukomawasha, Elliot Mandere and Prince Chari appeared at Harare Magistrates Court facing three counts of motor vehicle theft committed between October and November 2024.He was sentenced to 10 years in jail before two years were conditionally suspended. He will, therefore, effectively serve eight years behind bars.Court heard that the offender would present fake identify documents, including a driver’s licence, and forged proof of residence to car rental companies.Once in possession of the vehicles, he would quickly sell them to unsuspecting third parties, sometimes altering ownership documents to appear legitimate.It was heard in court that in all cases, the offender made initial rental payments, gained the trust of vehicle owners, and then vanished with the cars.Prosecutors said on October 22, 2024, Nketa hired a Honda Fit using a counterfeit national identity card and after some days, the car was tracked to Damafalls, where it had been sold. The buyer alerted police leading to the vehicle’s recovery by Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Vehicle Theft Squad Harare.On November 5, 2024, another car rental agency was duped into releasing a Toyota Axio.
The offender again used a forged identity card and later sold the car in Demand. It was recovered after police traced it to the buyer, who unknowingly purchased it from Nketa.On the third count, on November 13 last year, the car rental firm rented out a silver Honda Fit to the offender, who lied that he was in Marondera yet the tracker was indicating the vehicle was in Murisa village, Seke where it was recovered. Acting on a tip off detectives arrested accused person in central Harare on February 27 this year.
He attempted to flee but was captured with help of members of the public.A search conducted revealed Nketa had more forged documents in his possession.
Originally published on New Zimbabwe
Source: Newzimbabwe
