Dr Abraham Mapfumo (35), who was based at Murehwa District Hospital, allegedly misrepresented that Mica Nsamba’s two children had died of pneumonia in separate incidents, while admitted at the hospital.
Armed with the fake papers, Nsamba allegedly collected US$5 000 on each «death» from Old Mutual Funeral Benefit Plan.
Nsamba is still at large, while police investigations revealed that the two children who were never admitted at the hospital were alive and living at Rubatika Village in Dema, Seke.
Mapfumo was not asked to plead to the charge when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Donald Ndirowei yesterday.
With the State’s consent, Mr Ndirowei granted Mapfumo US$100 bail.
As part of the bail conditions, Mapfumo was ordered to surrender his pa*sport, not to interfere with State witnesses and to reside at his given address until the matter is finalised.
Appearing for the State, Ms Joyce Sith*le, alleges that on January 21 this year Mapfumo connived with Nsamba and hatched a plan to defraud Old Mutual Funeral Benefit Plan.
Mapfumo, it is alleged, fraudulently issued a medical certificate of cause of death (B.D.12) serial number 069924 purporting that Nsamba’s son, Tendai, had died of pneumonia on January 19 at Murehwa District Hospital.
Nsamba, the State alleges, took the medical report and went to the Murehwa District Registrar’s Office and obtained a burial order.
It is alleged after collecting the burial order, he went to Old Mutual and claimed US$5 000, which was deposited into his CABS account.
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The State further alleges that on July 15, Nsamba went back to Mapfumo who issued him with another medical certificate of cause of death (B.D.12) serial number 069988 purporting that Nsamba’s daughter, Patience, had died of pneumonia again on July 15, while admitted at the hospital.
Using the same modus operandi, Nsamba obtained a burial order at the Murehwa District Registrar’s Office, it is alleged.
The court heard that Nsamba took the burial orders to Old Mutual and claimed US$5 000, which was again deposited into his CABS account.
Old Mutual security officer Mr Stanley Nhongo became suspicious and alerted his superiors who then made a police report leading to Mapfumo’s arrest.
Police investigations showed that Patience and Tendai were alive.
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