Crooked Cop arrested over bribe

A Bulawayo police officer has been arrested for extortion after demanding $500 from a suspect, to stop investigating a case of fraud.

Chrispen Mutambanashe (29), stationed at ZRP Pumula station demanded the money from Maggie Mpofu who allegedly defrauded Nikita Mhlanga of $750 on Saturday.

Mpofu paid Mutambanashe $200 but he demanded more and was given $50.

The cop said the money was still not enough and threatened to restart investigations.

Mpofu made a report to Mutambanashe's superiors who set a trap for him.

They gave Mpofu marked bills amounting to $200 to Give to Mutambanashe on Tuesday.

She went to Pumula Police Station accompanied by two plainclothes detectives, who pounced on Mutambanashe as soon as he received the bribe.

Mutambanashe appeared before Provincial magistrate Willard Maphios Moyo facing two charges of extortion and criminal abuse of duty as a police officer.

He was not asked to plead and was remanded out of custody to March 26 on $100 bail.

Magistrate Moyo ordered Mutambanashe to reside at his home in Magwegwe until the matter was finalized.
He was told not to interfere with state witnesses.