MASVINGO — Two officers based at Mwenezi Police Station have landed themselves in trouble for allegedly soliciting for an $800 bribe from a cross-border trader.
Lloyd Mutandwa (41) and Lameck Tapiwa Bimha (38), whose ranks were not given, have since appeared in court facing bribery charges last week.
Magistrate Timeon Makunde gave them $50 bail each. Prosecuting, Takunda Chikwati told the court that on June 7 to 13 this year, the accused, members of the Criminal Investigation Department, solicited for the money from Sam Chapfudza after he failed to produce declaration forms for 30 bales of second-hand clothes he had bought from Mozambique.
Agreed facts are that they intercepted Chapfudza at Bubi at around 12 noon as he alighted from a haulage truck, waiting for transport from Masvingo.
When the police officers asked for declaration forms of the consignment, Chapfudza, who is the complainant, said he had misplaced them.
The accused allegedly demanded $800 from the cross-border trader if they were to spare him arrest. Chapfudza told them that he had no money and was only left with $250, which he gave them.
The cops, who had confiscated complainant’s passport, gave him their cellphone numbers so that he could deposit the “balance” in their ebanking accounts.
The court heard that from June 7 to 13, the police officers were pestering him over the money, constantly phoning him.
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Chapfudza then made a report at Masvingo Central Police Station, leading to the two’s arrest at Rutenga Business Centre.
They handed back the money and apologised. The trial is set to continue on 23 July.
