News / Local
Drama as kombi crew arrest two cops for demanding bribes
25 Mar 2013 at 06:08hrs | Views
In a dramatic twist of events, kombi windis (touts) and kimbi drivers in Bulawayo ganged up and reportedly effected citizen's arrest on two rogue police officers alleged to have launched a reign of terror against them for the past couple of months, continuously demanding bribes and threatening them with arrest.
The commuter omnibus crews, who operate at the corner of Hebert Chitepo Street and Eleventh Avenue, said the two plain clothes police officers had been terrorising them and demanding bribes ranging from US$10 to $25, which they would pocket without issuing any ticket or receipt as proof of payment.
Bulawayo provincial deputy police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Bekimpilo Ndlovu, said by yesterday evening they had not received information on the alleged officers' arrest.
"We have not yet received such information as yet but should people come across police officers engaging in corrupt activities or any misdemeanors, we encourage them to report immediately to the nearest police station," said Dep Insp Moyo.
However, our news crew witnessed the kombi drivers and hwindis whisking away the pair, who they had handcuffed, towards Bulawayo Central Police Station where they were detained. The police officers at the station requested commuter omnibus crews, who have fallen victim to the two officers to come to the station.
According to the kombi crew, the two cops had been continuously coming to the illegal pick-up point since January and as is the norm, they came yesterday morning and demanded bribes from three kombis.
"In most cases we have no choice but to pay them because we will be in desperate need to operate without any disturbances. However today they irked us when they came back again in the evening visibly drunk demanding bribes from us. They then jumped into one of the kombis and demanded that the driver drives off, so that they could 'negotiate'. It was then that we decided to follow them before we caught up with them along Plumtree road where we effected citizen's arrest using their own handcuffs," narrated a kombi tout who declined to be identified.
It is further alleged that when the officers realised that they had been overpowered, they pleaded for mercy and begged that they reach a consensus with the angry touts.
"Today were rather fortunate as the whole spectacle was witnessed by a senior police officer who offered to be a witness," said another driver.
The commuter omnibus crews, who operate at the corner of Hebert Chitepo Street and Eleventh Avenue, said the two plain clothes police officers had been terrorising them and demanding bribes ranging from US$10 to $25, which they would pocket without issuing any ticket or receipt as proof of payment.
Bulawayo provincial deputy police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Bekimpilo Ndlovu, said by yesterday evening they had not received information on the alleged officers' arrest.
"We have not yet received such information as yet but should people come across police officers engaging in corrupt activities or any misdemeanors, we encourage them to report immediately to the nearest police station," said Dep Insp Moyo.
However, our news crew witnessed the kombi drivers and hwindis whisking away the pair, who they had handcuffed, towards Bulawayo Central Police Station where they were detained. The police officers at the station requested commuter omnibus crews, who have fallen victim to the two officers to come to the station.
According to the kombi crew, the two cops had been continuously coming to the illegal pick-up point since January and as is the norm, they came yesterday morning and demanded bribes from three kombis.
"In most cases we have no choice but to pay them because we will be in desperate need to operate without any disturbances. However today they irked us when they came back again in the evening visibly drunk demanding bribes from us. They then jumped into one of the kombis and demanded that the driver drives off, so that they could 'negotiate'. It was then that we decided to follow them before we caught up with them along Plumtree road where we effected citizen's arrest using their own handcuffs," narrated a kombi tout who declined to be identified.
It is further alleged that when the officers realised that they had been overpowered, they pleaded for mercy and begged that they reach a consensus with the angry touts.
"Today were rather fortunate as the whole spectacle was witnessed by a senior police officer who offered to be a witness," said another driver.
Source - BMetro
