A 30-YEAR-OLD unlicensed Murehwa driver who kidnapped a traffic police officer at a roadblock in Macheke before dumping him at a farm has been sentenced to two years in prison by Marondera magistrate Tendai Muchini.
bY Jairos Saunyama
Norman Chikengezha of Zvomuya Village in Murehwa pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping police officer, Tafadzwa Chananda (22), but was nailed due to overwhelming evidence provided in the court.
He will, however, serve an effective 18-month jail term after six months were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
According to court papers, on January 22 this year, Chikengezha failed to produce a valid driver’s licence when he was stopped at a roadblock by Chananda.
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The accused told Chananda that he had left his driver’s licence at home. He was then asked to drive his vehicle to Macheke Police Station for verification of the claim with the Central Vehicle Registry.
But Chikengezha instead drove away from the roadblock towards Murehwa with the officer on board before pulling over at his uncle’s farm, 21km away from the roadblock.
Another police officer who was at the roadblock, Flavian Ngova (24), followed them and caught up with him at the farm along Murehwa Road where Chikengezha pulled out a plank threatening to assault the law enforcement agent.
Chikengezha was then apprehended with assistance of his uncle who grabbed him.
Tariro Shirichena prosecuted.