A MAN impersonating a police officer and causing consternation at the Five Ways Mall in Empangeni when police swooped in to arrest him, was apprehended last week.
The suspect, Zamo Mthethwa (34) was trapped when he preyed on the sympathy of community leader, Ward Councillor Andre de Lange.
‘He said he needed R300 for transport to get to the hospital in Durban as his wife and daughter had allegedly been in an accident,’ said Cllr De Lange.
‘Assuming he was a resident in my ward and duty bound to help, I gave him the money.’
Mthethwa continuously sent text messages to Cllr De Lange updating him on the status of his injured family.
‘I called him the following day, concerned about the state of his daughter and he told me that she had died and he was on his way back to Empangeni to see his wife to break the news.
‘He asked if I could meet him at the hospital, but I suggested Five Ways Mall instead,’ Cllr De Lange told the Zululand Observer.
Prior to meeting, Cllr De Lange received several messages from various people who claimed to be colleagues of Mthethwa.
Detectives and Lieutenants thanked him for his assistance, and indicated that their colleague ‘Sergeant Mthethwa’ needed additional financial help given his tragedy and that members of the police would reimburse him in the coming week.
Becoming suspicious, Cllr de Lange contacted local police officers, who joined the meeting at the local shopping centre.
‘We all spoke for a while, but the officers were on to him, questioning him about police force protocol. He slipped up, causing further suspicion and was searched. A fraudulent police appointment certificate and several business cards were found on him.’ said Cllr De Lange.
Mthethwa was charged and made his first appearance at the Empangeni Magistrate Court last week, where the case was remanded.
