In a shocking case of fraud and deception, a husband and wife from Chief Nhema’s area in Zaka have been sentenced for their elaborate scheme to falsely claim their daughter’s death and fraudulently obtain funds from Ecosure Funeral Cover.
Rungamirai Machinjike, 27, and Talent Rutindingwe, 33, were arraigned before the Masvingo Magistrates’ Court for their elaborate ruse, which spanned from November 2023 to December 2023.
The court heard that Machinjike, the first accused, had registered for Ecosure Funeral Cover and added her daughter, as well as her cousin, as dependents. During this period, the couple misrepresented to Ecosure that their daughter had passed away in November 2023.
In a bid to substantiate their claim, Machinjike fraudulently obtained a death confirmation letter from the local Headman and the identity documents of witnesses, which she then provided to her husband, Rutindingwe, the second accused, to process the claim.
Rutindingwe then proceeded to complete the claim forms, attaching the fabricated documents and signing on behalf of the purported witnesses.
The scheme, however, unravelled when Ecosure conducted preliminary investigations and discovered that the claim was, in fact, false. A police report was swiftly filed, leading to the arrest of the duo.
After a thorough examination of the evidence, the court sentenced Machinjike and Rutindingwe to six months in prison, with three months suspended. The remaining three months were further suspended on the condition that they complete 105 hours of community service.
As the community grapples with the implications of this case, it is a sobering reminder of the importance of honesty and integrity, even in the face of financial hardship. The penalties imposed on the couple send a clear message that such crimes will not be taken lightly.
