Cop caught on CCTV stealing brandy

A 26-year-old cop ran out of luck when he was caught on CCTV stealing two bottles of Bols Brandy worth about US$32 from Spar Kamfinsa supermarket.

Farai Murape, stationed at Northern Regional Workshop Chikurubi, was on Friday fined US$50 by Harare magistrate Ms Vongai Muchuchuti for theft. Murape was ordered to pay the money or spend 30 days in prison.

In mitigation Murape told the court that he was stressed and ended up stealing the spirits. "My father recently passed away and my brother is ill. I was too stressed," he said.

However, prosecutor Mr Desire Chidanire urged the court to give Murape a stiffer penalty because his moral blameworthiness was high.

"Who shall police the police? Murape is not just an ordinary person, he is a policemen, a custodian of the law, yet he stole.

"The offence was premeditated and his moral blameworthiness is very high," he said. The complainant in the matter was Spar Kamfinsa, represented by Mr Peter Mushayi.

Mr Chidanire told the court that on December 9 this year Murape, who hails from Murape village in Seke district, entered the supermarket around 10.30am and stole a bottle of Bols brandy.

Murape went away unnoticed but the CCTV had captured his move- ments.

Two minutes later, the police officer walked back into the supermarkets and stole another Bols bottle before walking away without paying. Murape's actions were in the eyes of Mr Mushayi, who was monitoring the CCTV.

Murape was arrested and immediately broke the bottle of the spirit. Curiosity led Mr Mushayi to replay the CCTV footage and he discovered that Murape had earlier stolen another bottle of brandy.

The stolen brandy was valued at US$32,64 and only bottle worth US$16,32 was recovered.