News / National
Two police officer up for bribery
05 Jul 2014 at 06:13hrs | Views
TWO police officers attached to the police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Serious Frauds Section yesterday appeared in court on allegations of bribery and criminal abuse of duty after they allegedly demanded money from a suspect to throw away his "case".
Tinofireyi Mutanha (33) and Fortune Chiwaya (32) were charged with contravening sections 170 and 174 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act when they appeared before Harare magistrate Donald Ndirowei.
They were remanded out of custody to July 22 2014 on $50 bail apiece.
Prosecutor Farai Gatsi alleged that on February 5 2014, the two men teamed up and drove to Chinhoyi in Mutanha's vehicle with the intention of arresting the complainant Admire Mbovha on allegations of fraud.
The court heard that Chiwaya was investigating the case of fraud against Mbovha. Upon arrival they explained to the complainant the allegations he was facing and he denied them, the court heard. Having agreed with him, they allegedly demanded $150 from Mbovha as hire fee for the motor vehicle they had used to travel to Chinhoyi. It is alleged that after receiving the money, they demanded a further $1 000 so that they could have the matter finalised. The complainant, however, promised to pay the money at a later date as he had no cash.
The police officers further demanded that Mbovha regularly buy airtime for them so that they would be able to update him on the outcome of the matter, it is alleged.
On February 6 2014, the complainant is said to have sent $32 via Ecocash to Chiwaya, who then phoned him demanding the
$1 000, which he said was wanted by his superiors.
The complainant requested for more time to raise the money. Mutanha is said to have phoned Mbovha on March 4 2014 requiring some airtime and the complainant sent him serial numbers for two $5 airtime cards.
The two cops, however, continued to phone the complainant demanding the money — now pegged at $2 000 — for the case to be finalised, failure of which they would continue to pursue the case, the court heard.
This, however, incensed the complainant who made a police report on June 4 2014, leading to the officers' arrest.
Tinofireyi Mutanha (33) and Fortune Chiwaya (32) were charged with contravening sections 170 and 174 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act when they appeared before Harare magistrate Donald Ndirowei.
They were remanded out of custody to July 22 2014 on $50 bail apiece.
Prosecutor Farai Gatsi alleged that on February 5 2014, the two men teamed up and drove to Chinhoyi in Mutanha's vehicle with the intention of arresting the complainant Admire Mbovha on allegations of fraud.
The court heard that Chiwaya was investigating the case of fraud against Mbovha. Upon arrival they explained to the complainant the allegations he was facing and he denied them, the court heard. Having agreed with him, they allegedly demanded $150 from Mbovha as hire fee for the motor vehicle they had used to travel to Chinhoyi. It is alleged that after receiving the money, they demanded a further $1 000 so that they could have the matter finalised. The complainant, however, promised to pay the money at a later date as he had no cash.
On February 6 2014, the complainant is said to have sent $32 via Ecocash to Chiwaya, who then phoned him demanding the
$1 000, which he said was wanted by his superiors.
The complainant requested for more time to raise the money. Mutanha is said to have phoned Mbovha on March 4 2014 requiring some airtime and the complainant sent him serial numbers for two $5 airtime cards.
The two cops, however, continued to phone the complainant demanding the money — now pegged at $2 000 — for the case to be finalised, failure of which they would continue to pursue the case, the court heard.
This, however, incensed the complainant who made a police report on June 4 2014, leading to the officers' arrest.
Source - NewsDay
