Elder scammed out of P80k over the phone
Over 20 months after he allegedly scammed an elderly woman out of more than P80, 000 by posing as a BTC employee, the long hand of the law has finally caught up with a suspected conman.
Walter Chizivisano is accused of tricking 67-year-old Baboloki Khakhe into giving him her Standard Chartered bank details over the phone, before then raiding her account for P82, 441.70.
Although the theft was reported on 7 June 2024, police investigations into the matter proved painstakingly slow.
The cops’ enquiries eventually led them to Chizivisano, with a warrant of arrest issued for the 33-year-old Zimbabwean on 29 December last year.
The wheels of justice then moved a little quicker.
On 17 January, the suspect was nabbed by officers in Molepolole, who alerted their Kutlwano colleagues.
Charged with theft, Chizivisano was arraigned before Francistown Magistrates on Thursday, where he informed court he intends to engage an attorney to represent him.
In response, the Prosecutor, Gasemotho Pitagano pleaded with court not to release the accused just yet.
“Since he wants to engage an attorney, he should bring him on the next mention. The accused person is a foreigner with the travelling documents and our problem with him being granted bail is that our investigations are at the initial stage.
“Part of the proceeds of crime have not been recovered. We plead that he be remanded in custody for seven days while we wait for his attorney,” said the prosecutor.
In fact, The Voice has learnt the authorities are yet to retrieve any of the stolen loot, with Chizivisano reportedly treating himself to a Honda Fit with the ill-gotten gains.
For his part, the suspect pleaded in vain for bail, noting he has cooperated fully with the boys in blue.
He also distanced himself from the crime, telling court he had shown the police the real culprits.
“I am not the one who stole the money, my names were just used,” Chizivisano argued, his alleged victim listening intently in the courtroom.
He is due back in court on 9 February.
It is alleged Khakhe received a call from an unknown number claiming to be from BTC, informing her she had won airtime bundles worth P500.
It seems the old woman was initially skeptical and told the caller to keep the units.
However, he persisted and she eventually caved in, at which point she was given instructions to follow for cellphone banking.
Not long after, she noticed some large bank deductions from her account and immediately realised what had happened.
