Police unearth fake PSV License scum

Police in the North western province have uncovered a scum where a businessman of Solwezi has been making and issuing fake public service vehicle (PSV) drivers licenses.

North western province police commissioner Eugene Sibote confirmed the arrest of the two men to ZANIS in Solwezi today.

Mr Sibote named the businessman as Royd Shatolo aged 32, of Kyawama compound who is alleged to have been making fake PVS driver licenses at his shop using a computer, a scanner and a laminating machine.

Mr Sibote said Shatolo has been charging K300 each for issuance of a fake license and does not know how many he has issued so far.

Mr Sibote said road traffic officers detected a fake PSV license with Innocent Mwewa a driver at Kambitaka construction site and upon interviewing him he revealed the source and later led Police to Shatolo’s shop where a search was conducted. 

Several other fake licenses were found at his shop.

Police have since confiscated the equipment used in the crime and have also arrested and charged Mwewa with taking peculiarly advantage of the fake PSV license to obtain a job at Kambitaka construction site.

Police have warned contractors engaging public service drivers to involve them so that driver licenses are professionally screened to avoid employing unqualified drivers.

And Road Traffic and Safety Agency (RTSA) regional manager Thomas Manda said his office was aware of  the issuance of fake PSV driver licenses and has been working with the police to ensure that fake driver’s license holders are arrested.

Mr Manda said he does not think that there are a lot of fake PSV licenses that were issued but stated that RTSA officers were on the ground and working with police to arrest all the culprits involved.

In a related development Police in Solwezi have apprehended a fuel attendant at Kalumbila Mine and a truck driver for stealing more than K54,600 worth of diesel belonging to the mine company.

Mr Sibote said the two were arrested last night after police found 26 containers of 210 liters of diesel  on the truck which was driven by Simon Chinyama of Wisdom compound in Solwezi.

Mr Sibote said upon being questioned Chinyama admitted that he had been working with a fuel attendant, Happy Chibukulu of Kalumbia township and two other people in Maheba area.

The police commissioner said Chinyama also disclosed that this was the second time of stealing from the mine where he is employed as a fuel attendant.

Mr Sibote noted that of late there has been an increase in fuel vending in Solwezi and this raised concerns as to who the source was.

 He said this wass the third scum involving huge fuel quantities that police had uncovered this year.