Nashe Mahachi
CHIPINGE – A 40-year-old Buhera man was brought before Chipinge magistrate courts after he was allegedly caught in possession of fake bank notes amounting to a whopping R33 500 at Birchenough Bridge business centre.
Jairos Tarwakuona pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Chipinge magistrate Poterai Gwashiri facing charges of being in possession articles for criminal use as defined in Section 40 (1) of the Criminal Law ( Codification and Reform) Act ,chapter 9:23.
In denying the charges, Tarwakuona said the fake notes were not his. He said he had genuine money when he got arrested which was equivalent to the fake notes which were brought before the courts.
Appearing for the State, Witness Nyamundaya told the court that Tarwakuona approached a vendor Karakadzai Bangwayo intending to exchange R500 with US dollars.
“Tarwakuona handed the fake R500 in R100 notes to Bangwayo who upon checking for security features discovered that the notes were counterfeit. Bangwayo informed other dealers that Tarwakuona had fake money,” Bangwayo said.
He was arrested and remanded in custody to Friday (tomorrow) for continuation of trial.local
