A commuter omnibus driver and his conductor have been arrested for allegedly kidnapping a police officer in Gweru and driving him to Kwekwe two weeks ago.
The pair appeared at Gweru Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
Taurai Jaurenji (31) and Chelton Bhango (24), both from Kwekwe, pleaded not guilty to the charges before Gweru magistrate Jeslene Mashiri. They were remanded in custody to October 4.
In their defence, the two said they wanted to file a police report because the police officer had solicited for a $10 bribe.
“The police officer was not kidnapped, but he forced himself into the commuter omnibus while soliciting for $10 and we needed time to file a police report,” said lawyer Brian Dube, who is representing Jaurenji and Bhango.
It is the State’s case that on September 9, the two employed at Magoronga Commuters, were loading passengers at Amtec Service Station.
It is alleged that Constable Edmond Makoni came and produced his police identity card before ordering them to drive to Gweru Police Station.
The allegations are that Bhango snatched Constable Makoni’s police identity card and drove with him to Kwekwe.
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On reaching Kwekwe, the pair was allegedly ordered to drive to Kwekwe Central Police Station, but Jaurenji did not comply and drove to a bus stop outside Kwekwe.
The pair, however, later drove to the police station, the court heard.
The officer filed a report. He was identified as a traffic police officer, leading to the kombi crew’s arrest.
