Judicial proceedings at Shurugwi Magistrate Court recently came to a halt after an assaulted woman forged a medical report in a bid to deceive the court into believing that they were dealing with an attempted murder case.
Chiedza Dhiyo (24) appeared before Shurugwi Resident Magistrate Ms. Sithabile Zungula facing charges of forgery as defined in section 137 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23.
It is in the state’s case that on April 25, 2019, Chiyedza Dhiyo made a report at Shurugwi Central Police station noting that she had been assaulted by Suneliziwe Moyo. Dhiyo was then referred to Shurugwi General Hospital for medical examination.
Dhiyo got examined and was given a medical report by Doctor Penelope Goromozi, not satisfied by the injuries recorded on the report, she purchased a blank affidavit and wrote that she had sustained serious injuries before forging the doctor’s stamp and signature.
The accused went on to hand over the fake medical report to the police.
As fate would have it, Public Prosecutor Mrs. Bertha Bore quizzed the accused and discovered that the injuries written on the medical report were not consistent with the weapon used in the assault.
The magistrate had to instruct the police to take Dhiyo back to the hospital where upon arrival Doctor Goromonzi disowned the report leading to the incarceration of the accused.
Sentencing Magistrate Ms. Sithabile Zungula slapped Chiedza Dhiyo with 280 hrs of community service.
-Zwnews
