×
NewsDay

AMH is an independent media house free from political ties or outside influence. We have four newspapers: The Zimbabwe Independent, a business weekly published every Friday, The Standard, a weekly published every Sunday, and Southern and NewsDay, our daily newspapers. Each has an online edition.

Cop in dock over fake roadblock

News
A ZIMBABWE Republic Police officer who was arrested on Wednesday by members of the public after fleeing from an alleged illegal roadblock he had set up in Kuwadzana, Harare, yesterday appeared in court facing charges of criminal abuse of office as a public officer.

A ZIMBABWE Republic Police officer who was arrested on Wednesday by members of the public after fleeing from an alleged illegal roadblock he had set up in Kuwadzana, Harare, yesterday appeared in court facing charges of criminal abuse of office as a public officer.

BY PAIDAMOYO MUZULU

Sergeant Kudzanai Kwashirai (34) of the Police Protection Unit was not asked to plead when he appeared before magistrate Elijah Makomo.

According to State papers, Kwashirai acted in cahoots with his accomplice, Tawanda Nyamutamba in setting up the illegal roadblock on the Harare-Norton highway where they were asking motorists to pay spot fines for various traffic offences. Nyamutamba is still at large.

Harare Magistrates’ Court

Among their victims was Bernard Andries Bester who was asked to pay $380 in fines or they would impound his car. Bester told the pair that he had no such money on him.

“The complainant (Bester) gave the accused $142 and they told him that this time they were just going to warn him and did not issue him with any ticket for the money,” the papers read.

Bester then drove towards Norton, but saw another roadblock from where he inquired about the earlier roadblock, and was told there was no other lawful police roadblock on that stretch of road. This prompted him to drive back. The officers on noticing Bester coming back hastily deserted their roadblock and sped in their getaway car with the complainant in hot pursuit.

The two officers failed to control their vehicle and veered off the road, leaving them with no option, but to flee on foot. Members of the public joined in the chase and managed to apprehend Kwashirai. Kwashirai was remanded in custody to March 7.

Meanwhile, two Indian men appeared before the same court on charges of smuggling 137 pieces of diamonds into the country, attempted theft of diamonds at the Minerals Marketing Corporation Zimbabwe (MMCZ) and illegal possession of diamonds.

Amitkumar Vindhai Patel and Amarkumar Jashwantibaj Rana were arrested at the MMCZ Msasa office, leading to their arraignment in court. The pair is applying for bail pending trial.

They told the court yesterday that they were ready to deposit $1 000 bail each, report to police three times a week, surrender their passports to the clerk of court and stay in Belvedere with their host until the matter is finalised. It is alleged the duo wanted to steal the diamonds at MMCZ through exchanging their poor quality diamond for the gems in the showroom.

It is alleged they were caught on the CCTV stealing the diamonds and they hid them in their socks in a toilet at the centre. They were arrested and searched. Police found the pieces of diamond valued at $240 592.

Magistrate Makomo is yet to make a ruling on their bail.