News / National
Three months in jail for biting a Cop
28 Apr 2011 at 04:17hrs | Views
RESISTING arrest and assaulting a cop proved costly when a 28-year-old man was locked up for three effective months for the offence. George Sithole was initially slapped with a six-month jail term by Harare magistrate Kudakwashe Jarabini before he set aside three months on condition that Sithole does not commit a similar offence within the next five years.
It was proved beyond reasonable doubt that George resisted arrest at Roadport Bus Terminus on December 17 around 3pm. Constable Happy Siziba was acting on course of his duties while patrolling in the Central Business District when he went to Roadport in the company of fellow officers.
Upon approaching the rank, vendors, illegal foreign currency dealers and those who were drinking in public took to their heels. That prompted the cop to pursue everyone who was carrying out the illegal activities. Luck ran out for George and a few others who were fished out by the cops.
But the drama began when Constable Siziba wanted to handcuff him. George became violent. He declared that no one would ever arrest him. But the cop could not easily bow down to George's commands. At the height of the scuffle, George bit Siziba's hands.
Siziba sustained a deep cut on his hand since George sunk his teeth into his flesh. The cop bled profusely from the wound. But Siziba was not deterred by George who wanted to evade arrest. Meanwhile, fellow cops came to Siziba's rescue and they eventually arrested George.
It was for that reason that George was yanked to court. He faced a charge of assaulting and resisting arrest as defined in Section 176 of the Criminal Law (codification and reform) Act chapter 9 23. The medical affidavit confirming Siziba's injuries was also used as exhibit in court. Fortunately George did not waste the court's time by pleading guilty.
He further told the court that he protested against the arrest because he was not doing anything illegal. But the magistrate could not buy that. George will spend the next three months in jail.
It was proved beyond reasonable doubt that George resisted arrest at Roadport Bus Terminus on December 17 around 3pm. Constable Happy Siziba was acting on course of his duties while patrolling in the Central Business District when he went to Roadport in the company of fellow officers.
Upon approaching the rank, vendors, illegal foreign currency dealers and those who were drinking in public took to their heels. That prompted the cop to pursue everyone who was carrying out the illegal activities. Luck ran out for George and a few others who were fished out by the cops.
Siziba sustained a deep cut on his hand since George sunk his teeth into his flesh. The cop bled profusely from the wound. But Siziba was not deterred by George who wanted to evade arrest. Meanwhile, fellow cops came to Siziba's rescue and they eventually arrested George.
It was for that reason that George was yanked to court. He faced a charge of assaulting and resisting arrest as defined in Section 176 of the Criminal Law (codification and reform) Act chapter 9 23. The medical affidavit confirming Siziba's injuries was also used as exhibit in court. Fortunately George did not waste the court's time by pleading guilty.
He further told the court that he protested against the arrest because he was not doing anything illegal. But the magistrate could not buy that. George will spend the next three months in jail.
Source - Harare correspondence
