Two-year sentence for man who faked minister’s signature in land deal

HARARE – A man who faked the signature of Lands and Agriculture Minister Anxious Masuka during a fake land sale was jailed for two years on Monday.

Bright Murandamaoko, of Mvurwi, sold a fake offer letter for a piece of land purportedly signed by Masuka for US$2,000, the Harare Magistrates Court heard.

The 45-year-old can avoid jail time, however, after magistrate Judith Taruvinga suspended eight months of his sentence on condition that he restitutes the victim, Rudolf Jingo, before September 10 this year.

Another six months were suspended on condition of good behaviour.

The remaining 10 months were also suspended on conditions that he performs 350 hours of community service at Mvurwi Primary School.

Taruvinga said Murandamaoko was a first offender and must be given a second chance.

The court heard that sometime in June this year, Jingo was introduced to Murandamaoko by a neighbour. Jingo and Murandamaoko continued to communicate after the introductions.

Murandamaoko, the National Prosecuting Authority charged, then lied to Jingo that he was an official from the ministry of lands and that he was able to facilitate the allocation of a piece of land for a fee.

Jingo then asked for a 25-hectare piece of land and paid Murandamaoko US$2,000 in three instalments.

Murandamaoko allegedly created a fake document with a government logo and forged signature of minister Masuka.

On August 19, upon receipt of the fake offer letter, Jingo became suspicious and approached the National Land Inspectorate offices for verification.

The court heard that while Jingo was still at the lands offices, he received a call from Murandamaoko demanding his balance of US$500. On the advice of lands officials, a trap was set and Murandamaoko was arrested by plain clothes officers shortly after he was handed the money whose serial numbers had been noted by the police.

A search conducted on his vehicle led to the recovery of five fake date stamps – one for Mashonaland East province, one for Mashonaland Central, one for Mashonaland West and two for the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement Headquarters.