LAWYERS representing Ward 33 (Budiriro) MDC–T councillor Sydney Chirombe (43), who is facing sodomy charges, yesterday accused one of the police officers who arrested him of lying against his client because of their political differences. PHILLIP CHIDAVAENZI
Chirombe is jointly charged with Joseph Muchena (23) with whom he was allegedly caught pants down at around 0230 hours on May 15.
During the cross-examination of Constable Obert Anovhi, defence lawyer Shadreck Chisoko said although police regulations did not allow him to openly support a political party, his allegiance lay with Zanu PF.
The lawyers argued that the police officer was out to “fix” their client because he had beaten his preferred candidate in the local government elections.
Chisoko said the only reason why the police officers arrested the accused persons was that they had refused to pay a bribe.
“I put it to you that you demanded money from him and when your extortionist efforts failed, you cooked up a bunch of lies that you couldn’t even substantiate,” he said. “Most of your testimonies are a lie. This is a fabricated story.”
In his evidence in chief, the police officer said Chirombe was wearing a red golf T-shirt with a Harare municipality emblem, but during cross –examination, he said the T-shirt had a mixture of red, maroon and black.
Chisoko also accused Anovhi of lying that there were two vehicles at the scene of the alleged offence because there was another vehicle with a couple engaging in sexual intercourse, but the police let them off the hook because they had paid bribes.
- 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
During cross-examination by defence lawyer Kennedy Masiye of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Anovhi said he first joined the police in 2004 and resigned in 2006 before rejoining the force, but he could not recall when.
Masiye argued that Anovhi’s evidence could not be relied on as he kept on changing his statements.
He, however, admitted that a medical examination carried out on the day the two accused persons were arrested did not indicate that any sexual contact had taken place between them.
Allegations against the duo are that they were caught pants down by police officers from Glen Norah Police Station on patrol in the Willowvale industrial area.
When the officers approached the vehicle to investigate what was happening at the scene, they found the two accused persons allegedly engaged in anal sex in the front passenger seat.
After the two accused persons allegedly realised they had been caught in the act, Chirombe is said to have jumped onto the driver’s seat, but failed to drive off after one of the police officers grabbed the keys through the window which was partially open.
