THREE police officers posted at the Border Control and Mineral Unit in Manicaland appeared in court last Friday facing extortion charges involving $500.
OBEY MANAYITI
The three — Peter Manyumbu (39), Edwin Mateko (29) and Learnmore Difala (32) — however, denied charges of contravening Section 133 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 when they appeared before Mutare magistrate Sekesai Chiundura.
Charges against the three are that on October 3 this year, they received a tip-off that Josphat Musasa had smuggled large quantities of illicit Royal Gin spirit from Mozambique.
They intercepted Musasa, who was carrying four 50kg bags loaded with the illicit beer bottles, in Mutare’s industrial area and arrested him.
When they threatened to take him to the police station, Musasa allegedly offered them $100 to secure his freedom, but they turned down the offer, demanding $500.
Musasa allegedly indicated that he did not have that amount with him, but promised to pay up when he got home. The court heard that the trio immediately released him on condition that he would honour his pledge that day.
When Musasa got home, he decided to report the matter to the police.
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After being tipped off that Musasa was at the police station filing extortion charges against them, the three police officers returned the money, but later on continuously threatened him with detention and unspecified action.
This led Musasa to make another police report, leading to the arrest of the three.
