News / National
Kombi driver banned for life from driving public transport
30 Jul 2012 at 06:07hrs | Views
A Gweru kombi driver, Irvin Matafeni, 24, who tried to evade arrest for picking passengers at an undesignated point by speeding with commuters inside the vehicle has been sentenced to 21 months in prison.
Matafeni, who pleaded guilty to one count of failing to obey a law officer and another of proceeding against a red robot, was also banned for life from driving public transport by Gweru magistrate, Miss Florence Nago.
He was also prohibited from driving any vehicle for the next two years.
Nothing was suspended from Matafeni's sentence since his latest conviction came before completing three years of good behaviour after being convicted for another traffic offence for which he received a wholly suspended three months sentence.
For the State, Miss Chipo Matshe, told the court that on 16 November 2011 at about 6pm, Matafeni was approached by two uniformed police officers while loading passengers in his commuter omnibus, a Toyota Hiace, at an undesignated pick-up point in Gweru central business district.
Miss Matshe said on seeing the police officers who were driving in an Isuzu truck, Matafeni sped off despite several efforts by the police to stop him.The court heard the police gave chase resulting in Matafeni speeding along the Gweru-Bulawayo Road.
Miss Matshe said on seeing that the police Isuzu truck was closing in on him, Matafeni who was carrying passengers, turned into a bumpy dust road while speeding.
She said police who were chasing Matafeni then raised their colleagues who blocked Matafeni from the other end, leading to his arrest.
Matafeni, who pleaded guilty to one count of failing to obey a law officer and another of proceeding against a red robot, was also banned for life from driving public transport by Gweru magistrate, Miss Florence Nago.
He was also prohibited from driving any vehicle for the next two years.
Nothing was suspended from Matafeni's sentence since his latest conviction came before completing three years of good behaviour after being convicted for another traffic offence for which he received a wholly suspended three months sentence.
For the State, Miss Chipo Matshe, told the court that on 16 November 2011 at about 6pm, Matafeni was approached by two uniformed police officers while loading passengers in his commuter omnibus, a Toyota Hiace, at an undesignated pick-up point in Gweru central business district.
Miss Matshe said on seeing the police officers who were driving in an Isuzu truck, Matafeni sped off despite several efforts by the police to stop him.The court heard the police gave chase resulting in Matafeni speeding along the Gweru-Bulawayo Road.
Miss Matshe said on seeing that the police Isuzu truck was closing in on him, Matafeni who was carrying passengers, turned into a bumpy dust road while speeding.
She said police who were chasing Matafeni then raised their colleagues who blocked Matafeni from the other end, leading to his arrest.
Source - Courts
