A Mutare policeman, Sergeant Elphas Dube, who was being charged with breaking into the exhibits room and stealing gold and diamond exhibits worth $700 000 had the charges against him dismissed last Friday.
Dube (28) walked out of court a free man after the magistrate dismissed the case citing lack of evidence.
The policeman was being charged with stealing 196,4 grammes of gold and 5 174 pieces of diamonds while performing his duties as an exhibit officer between February 10 and April 18 this year.
Before his arrest, Dube was based at Mutare Central Police Minerals Unit.
In dismissing the charge, magistrate Noah Gwatidzo said the State had failed to prove a prima facie case against him after several witnesses who testified in the trial professed ignorance over how the minerals had vanished from the exhibits room.
In his defence, Dube told the court several police officers had access to the room, hence he could not be held liable for the offence.
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In dismissing the matter, Gwatidzo said the security system at the police station was inadequate, adding police had flouted standard investigating procedures.