ZIMRA Official arrested after he was captured on camera accepting R50 bribe

A ZIMBABWE Revenue Authority (Zimra) official stationed at Beitbridge Border Post has been nabbed for allegedly receiving a R50 bribe from a cross-border trader.

Shingirirai Maereka is alleged to have been caught on closed circuit television (CCTV) camera when he received the money wrapped in a Customs declaration form.

Police recovered the R50 from him.

Sources close to investigations yesterday said Maereka was summoned to appear in court later this week. “Police were asked to bring further details and possibly video evidence,” said the source.

It is alleged that Maereka was deployed at the motor traffic section and his duties included assessing duty for non-commercial importers.

Indications are that during the course of duty, the accused would fraudulently grant travellers’ rebates for a fee.

He would later collect the “duty” himself and this led to his arrest.

Under the current customs regulations, a traveller is allowed to import selected goods worth less than $200 duty-free once a month.

Source-Newsday