Harare — A man who masqueraded as a policeman at Harare Central Police Station, swindling relatives of accused persons after telling them that he would facilitate their release, was slapped with an effective four-year jail term yesterday.

Timothy Chikochi (42) of Epworth had pleaded not guilty to three counts of fraud, but magistrate Mr Lazarus Murendo convicted him after a full trial and sentenced him to four years and six months imprisonment.

Mr Murendo suspended six months of the sentence on condition of good behaviour.

"You reside in Epworth and you travelled all the way to Harare Central to defraud relatives of the accused persons who were desperate, meaning to say it was a premeditated act.

"Even your conduct really tarnishes the image of the Zimbabwe Republic Police," reads part of the ruling.

Agreed facts are that on October 4 this year, Chikochi approached Fillis Madongorere at Harare Central Police Station and misrepresented to her that he was a member of the Zimbabwe Republic Police.

Chikochi was given US$342 and a cellphone valued at US$100 after he had lied to her that he could facilitate the release of her husband before vanishing with his loot.

On November 11, Chikochi again misrepresented himself as a police officer based at CID Homicide to Lisinda Kazembe and demanded cash from her so that her relative would be released.