A Zimbabwean woman was arrested for allegedly forging her living husband’s death certificate and using it to secure employment in Thailand.
Resistance Tariro Matiashe (36) is being charged with forgery as defined in Section 137 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.
Matiashe reportedly works as a teacher in the Southeast Asian country.
She was not asked to plead to the forgery charges when she appeared before Mutare provincial magistrate, Langton Carter, last week on Saturday.
Matiashe was remanded in custody to Tuesday when she was granted $50 000 bail. She will be back in court on 18 July.
She was also ordered to surrender her passport to the Clerk of Court and not to interfere with State witnesses.
Prosecuting, Nyasha Mukonyora told the court that on 27 June Canan Matiashe, Resistance’s brother-in-law received information from Resistance’s colleague in Thailand that his brother, Justin Matiashe, had been involved in a road traffic accident and had died on the spot.
It was further alleged that after receiving the news, Canan called Justin’s number and the latter answered the call. Said Mukonyora:
To his surprise, Justin was alive and doing well. Canan then told the lady in Thailand that his brother was doing well and was alive.
The woman then sent him a burial order which was registered in Justin’s name and told him that Resistance, who is currently on holiday in Zimbabwe, had sent her the copy.
She said the order had been sent as proof that Justin had died.
A copy of a Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) accident summary report had also been sent as proof that Justin had been involved in an accident and had died on the spot.
Canan then informed his brother about the matter and advised him to make a police report.
The matter was reported at Mutare Central Police Station, thereby leading to Resistance’s arrest.