Traffic cop's motorbike run over in scuffle with kombi crew

A TRAFFIC police motorcycle was extensively damaged when it was run over by a commuter omnibus during a scuffle between a kombi driver, his conductor and two traffic cops at an undesignated parking area outside a drinking bar in Bulawayo last Tuesday.

Police confirmed the incident.

According to witnesses, the driver and conductor are said to have been sleeping in their commuter omnibus (registration number ACS 1287) when two traffic policemen who were on a motorbike pounced on them and allegedly shoved the motorbike they were riding under the commuter omnibus to prevent the driver from escaping.

One of the policemen is said to have quickly dashed and stood at the rear of the kombi to thwart the driver from reversing.

The policeman who shoved the bike under the vehicle is alleged to have gone to the driver's side of the omnibus and demanded a bribe so that they would not arrest the driver and his conductor for operating a commuter omnibus without a permit.

It is believed that the driver refused to pay up because he felt that the bribe that was being demanded was unreasonable.

An argument ensued, harsh words were exchanged and in an effort to stamp his authority, the policeman who was talking to the driver is said to have tried to handcuff the driver who was still in the car through the window.

Realising that the odds were staked against him, the driver is said to have attempted to drive away by running over the motorbike. He only managed to drag the bike a few metres before realising that his effort was futile.

The motorcycle which became wedged to the underside of the omnibus is said to have suffered extensive damages as a result of being run over and dragging.

Like cornered animals, the driver and the conductor, who realised that it was impossible to use the car to get away, got out of their kombi and the police pounced on them to prevent them from escaping.

In an effort to arrest the two who were bent on escaping, the police are said to have "applied minimum force". However, the driver and conductor would have none of it as they fought back.

Other public transport operators who were also parked at the same place and passersby are said to have gathered around the commuter omnibus to watch the drama unfold.

The cheers and jeers of the small crowd that had gathered gave the driver and the conductor, who are said to have been losing the fight, an avenue to escape and escape they did. They took to their heels, leaving their commuter omnibus, with the keys in the ignition, unattended. The cops tried to give chase but they gave up as they realised that the escaping driver and conductor were gifted in the art of dodging and running.

The policemen returned to the abandoned commuter omnibus and drove it to Drill Hall where it is presently impounded. The whereabouts of the driver and conductor are unknown. However, it is believed that one of them is now in hiding in South Africa.

In an interview, Bulawayo Metropolitan Province police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo revealed that the driver of the commuter omnibus was on the police wanted list.

"The police wanted to arrest the accused because he is on the wanted list. When they tried to arrest him he ran over the motorbike and dragged it for about 10 metres. He later stopped the car and ran away. The accused is still at large but efforts are being made to find and arrest him. The car he was driving was impounded," Inspector Moyo said.