The Chronicle
Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Law Reporter
The trial date for a Bulawayo teenager and her 43-year-old girlfriend, allegedly linked to a counterfeit foreign currency, is set for Sept. 15.
Chantelle Sibalwa, 18, of the North End suburb, was arrested while trying to use a counterfeit US $ 100 note to buy chicken at a local food outlet. She then led detectives to her house, where a selection of fake high denominations of US dollars and South African rand were recovered stashed under a mattress.
Sibalwa led police to her boyfriend, Onesmus Zimunya’s (43)’s residence along Lobengula Street in the city center, which led to his arrest.
Sibalwa and Zimunya appeared before Bulawayo judges Marygold Ndlovu on charges of possession of articles for criminal use. They were both detained until September 15 for the commencement of the trial. The two are out on $ 1,000 bail each.
As part of the bail conditions, they were ordered to stay at their given addresses and not interfere with state witnesses until the case is closed.
In prosecution, Mr Leonard Chile said on 20 August at 11.30am, Sibalwa walked into a Chicken Inn outlet downtown and produced a fake $ 100 note intending to buy two pieces of chicken.
Sibalwa walked into the store like any other customer and ordered a two-part box at the Chicken Inn using a US $ 100 note, serial number KB74984746B. Upon payment, an attentive cashier noticed that the money was fake and she immediately notified her shift manager, ”said Mr Chile.
A report was issued to the police leading to the Sibalwa verdict. When asked by police, Sibalwa revealed that her boyfriend was involved in scams in the manufacture of counterfeit banknotes.
“Sibalwa revealed to police that her boyfriend had several counterfeit banknotes at his residence, including the machine used to make the counterfeit banknotes,” Mr Chile said.
She led police to her home, where US $ 2,265 and R1,700 in counterfeit money, an HP Diskjet printer, binding paper, rulers and razor blades allegedly used in the crime were recovered.
The counterfeit counterfeit money, which consisted of 12 counterfeit $ 100 banknotes, four counterfeit US $ 50 banknotes, 11 counterfeit US $ 10 banknotes, 13 counterfeit US $ 5 banknotes and 17 counterfeit R100 banknotes, was hidden under a mattress. – @mashnets