News / National
Police using civilians to collect bribes
13 Mar 2014 at 06:28hrs | Views
Four people allegedly used by rogue Traffic police officers in bribe collection yesterday appeared before the Harare Magistrates' Courts.
It is alleged the cops would liaise with commuter omnibus rank marshals to collect cash from kombi crews before feeding the registration numbers of compliant drivers onto phones of law enforcement agents manning roadblocks.
Those who had paid between $4 and $12 daily would then have easy passage at roadblocks as officers there would know that they already greased palms, it is alleged.
Pardon Chikowe (26), Simbarashe Siringwani (34), Robson Sandinga (37) and Byron Konde (26) appeared before magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe on separate records charged with extortion.
They were represented by Mr Tawanda Takaendesa, while Miss Sharon Mashavira appeared for the State.
Mr Mahwe deferred the matter to today for bail application as the State has opposed bail.
It is alleged that on February 27 at Zengeza 2 bus terminus, Siringwani collected $12 per vehicle from kombi crews plying the City-Chitungwiza route.
Siringwani would then take down the registration numbers of the vehicles which would have paid the bribes and send them via text messages to traffic officers at roadblocks along Seke Road.
On March 6, Sandinga was arrested and found with $100 believed to have been collected from kombi crews, as well as a list of registration numbers he had sent to traffic cops.
Unaware that Sandinga had been arrested and was in police custody, his alleged accomplice Siringwani sent him a list of more registration numbers, leading to his arrest.
Between March 2 and March 4, Chikowe allegedly collected $5 per vehicle at Overspill bus terminus in Epworth before sending the list of registration numbers to officers at a roadblock on Chiremba Road. When arrested, Chikowe had $300 allegedly collected from kombi crews and to be shared with cops.
Using the same method, Konde allegedly connived with Brian Bhandi and collected $4 per vehicle and the money was given to traffic cops.
It is alleged the cops would liaise with commuter omnibus rank marshals to collect cash from kombi crews before feeding the registration numbers of compliant drivers onto phones of law enforcement agents manning roadblocks.
Those who had paid between $4 and $12 daily would then have easy passage at roadblocks as officers there would know that they already greased palms, it is alleged.
Pardon Chikowe (26), Simbarashe Siringwani (34), Robson Sandinga (37) and Byron Konde (26) appeared before magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe on separate records charged with extortion.
They were represented by Mr Tawanda Takaendesa, while Miss Sharon Mashavira appeared for the State.
Mr Mahwe deferred the matter to today for bail application as the State has opposed bail.
It is alleged that on February 27 at Zengeza 2 bus terminus, Siringwani collected $12 per vehicle from kombi crews plying the City-Chitungwiza route.
Siringwani would then take down the registration numbers of the vehicles which would have paid the bribes and send them via text messages to traffic officers at roadblocks along Seke Road.
On March 6, Sandinga was arrested and found with $100 believed to have been collected from kombi crews, as well as a list of registration numbers he had sent to traffic cops.
Unaware that Sandinga had been arrested and was in police custody, his alleged accomplice Siringwani sent him a list of more registration numbers, leading to his arrest.
Between March 2 and March 4, Chikowe allegedly collected $5 per vehicle at Overspill bus terminus in Epworth before sending the list of registration numbers to officers at a roadblock on Chiremba Road. When arrested, Chikowe had $300 allegedly collected from kombi crews and to be shared with cops.
Using the same method, Konde allegedly connived with Brian Bhandi and collected $4 per vehicle and the money was given to traffic cops.
Source - The Herald
