GWERU — A public prosecutor based at Kwekwe Magistrates’ Court has been sentenced to an effective one-year-jail term for corruption following his conviction on charges of demanding and accepting bribes from criminal suspects.
Vincent Musanga Chikombe (34) had initially been slapped with a two-year jail term, but had one year suspended on condition of good behaviour.
Handing down the sentence yesterday, presiding magistrate Douglas Chikwekwe said a custodial sentence was the most appropriate given the gravity of the offence, adding corruption deserved stiffer penalty.
Charges against Chikombe arose in May last year when as the presiding prosecutor in a theft case involving a suspect, Seward Chigwedere, he demanded $500 bribe to drop the charges.
On a date unknown to the court but in June 2011, Chigwedere gave Chikombe $500.
Chikombe later demanded another $200 which he was handed before getting into the courtroom on judgment day.
But Chigwedere was found guilty of the offence and remanded out of custody for sentence. Soon after adjournment, Chikombe demanded another $100 bribe to ensure “the matter dies a natural death”.
On June 9, 2011, Chigwedere came to court and gave Chikombe $100, bringing the total to $800. Chigwedere reported the matter to the police, leading to Chikombe’s arrest.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Chikombe is not new to controversy as he was once suspended on yet another related offence committed in August 2009.
He was caught red-handed receiving a $300 bribe from Maria Moyo whose husband had been arrested for stocktheft.
Chikombe was represented by Tapera Sengweni while Andrew Marimo prosecuted.
