News / National
Cops in the dock for demanding $240 bribe
22 Oct 2015 at 06:52hrs | Views
Three traffic police officers stationed at Mabvuku Police Station appeared in court yesterday for allegedly demanding bribes amounting to $240 from commuter omnibus crews.
Dorcas Kanyemba (37), Babra Macharika (21) and Malvia Simbarashe Chigweshe (22) appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe charged with criminal abuse of office.
They were remanded in custody to today for bail application.
Prosecutor Ms Francisca Mukumbiri alleges that on October 19 Assistant Inspector Thomas Mabgwe from Police General Headquarters (Police Intelligence Directorate) received information that traffic officers at Mabvuku Police Station were demanding bribes from commuter omnibus crews.
It is alleged the trio would demand $5 from each commuter omnibus operator who plied the Mabvuku-City route.
The commuter operators would pay the money at the Mabvuku traffic offices in the morning between 4am and 6am, it is alleged.
The court heard that those who were given a code would be allowed free passage at the roadblock.
It is the State's case that a trap was set up for the trio whereby Ass Insp Mabgwe instructed police officers unknown to the three accused persons to pose as commuter omnibus crews.
The four undercover cops went to pay $5 each for two commuter omnibuses.
The two $5 notes where photocopied.
Macharika and Chigweshe were approached by Ass Insp Mabgwe who confronted them about their dealings and Macharika was still holding the two $5 notes.
She then produced $230 from her pocket which was part of the money they had received that morning.
The three were subsequently arrested.
Dorcas Kanyemba (37), Babra Macharika (21) and Malvia Simbarashe Chigweshe (22) appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe charged with criminal abuse of office.
They were remanded in custody to today for bail application.
Prosecutor Ms Francisca Mukumbiri alleges that on October 19 Assistant Inspector Thomas Mabgwe from Police General Headquarters (Police Intelligence Directorate) received information that traffic officers at Mabvuku Police Station were demanding bribes from commuter omnibus crews.
It is alleged the trio would demand $5 from each commuter omnibus operator who plied the Mabvuku-City route.
The commuter operators would pay the money at the Mabvuku traffic offices in the morning between 4am and 6am, it is alleged.
It is the State's case that a trap was set up for the trio whereby Ass Insp Mabgwe instructed police officers unknown to the three accused persons to pose as commuter omnibus crews.
The four undercover cops went to pay $5 each for two commuter omnibuses.
The two $5 notes where photocopied.
Macharika and Chigweshe were approached by Ass Insp Mabgwe who confronted them about their dealings and Macharika was still holding the two $5 notes.
She then produced $230 from her pocket which was part of the money they had received that morning.
The three were subsequently arrested.
Source - the herald
