MUTARE – Two Nyazura-based police officers appeared at Rusape Magistrates Court last Thursday facing bribery charges following their alleged role in a botched $10 000 copper smuggling deal.
Paradzai Nyamunderu (33) and Elliot Mataga (29), who are attached to the ZRP traffic section, were not asked to plead when they appeared before magistrate Shingirai Mutiro.
The court remanded them in custody to today for a ruling on their bail application.
The officers are charged under section 174 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, which criminalises abuse of duty as a public officer.
Charges against the pair are that on May 21, they were deployed to guard a lorry which had been involved in an accident.
The truck was carrying 30 tonnes of sugar destined for Beira in Mozambique.
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It also emerged that the truck was carrying an illegal consignment of 500kg of copper.
After discovering the copper, the officers allegedly connived with the truck owner to conceal the crime. Gift Chokodza prosecuted.