Fake ID Fraud Suspect Appears in Court Over Loan Scam Allegations

A 32-year-old Harare man has appeared in court facing fraud allegations after allegedly using forged identity documents and fake payslips to secure loans from a financial institution.

John Chirine appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Michael Mafukidze on two counts of fraud and was released on US$300 bail.

According to the State, the complainant is Innbucks Microbank Limited, represented by the institution’s Head of Risk, Mr Marcos Mupingo.

Prosecutor Mr Lawrence Gangarahwe told the court that on April 26, 2026, Chirine allegedly used a counterfeit national identity card and a fake Natpack Flexibles payslip bearing the name Brandon Benhura to apply for a loan.

The court heard that Chirine allegedly visited Innbucks Microbank offices in Borrowdale, Harare, pretending to be Brandon Benhura and applied for a loan amounting to US$3 321.

It is alleged the financial institution processed the application and transferred the funds into an NMB Bank account allegedly linked to Chirine, who then reportedly withdrew the money for personal use.

In a second incident, prosecutors allege that on May 5, 2026, Chirine again attempted to secure another loan using forged documents, this time posing as Isaac Machingura.

He allegedly submitted another fake Natpack Flexibles payslip together with a counterfeit national identity card while applying for a US$6 300 loan from the same institution.

However, the alleged scam was reportedly uncovered before the funds could be released, prompting the institution to block the transaction and alert the police.

Authorities later arrested Chirine following investigations into the matter.
The court heard that Innbucks Microbank suffered a loss of US$3 321 as a result of the alleged fraud.