News / National
Policeman in trouble over $35
22 Oct 2015 at 06:56hrs | Views
A police officer based at Chitungwiza Police Station allegedly connived with a member of the neighbourhood watch committee to extort $35 from the director of Passneck Investments after arresting him on charges of loitering for the purposes of prostitution.
Constable Tafadzwa Matigimu (23) of Glen View 1 in Harare is jointly charged with Taitos Chere (26) of Unit P in Chitungwiza for allegedly using a pellet gun to arrest Amon Mambinge of Unit L.
Chere is also self-employed as a taxi driver at Makoni Shopping Centre.
The pair denied extortion charges when they appeared before Chitungwiza magistrate Ms Tafadzwa Miti.
Ms Miti remanded the duo to today for trial on $50 bail each.
Prosecuting, Mr Edmond Ndambakuwa alleged that on October 1 this year, and at around 12.30am, Mambinge who is director at Passneck Investments, went to Unit K to see his female friend, Blessing Bandura.
On arrival, the court heard that Mambinge parked his vehicle in front of Bandura's main gate at her house.
The duo, who were on an unsanctioned patrol driving in a Toyota Spacio, spotted Mambinge's parked car.
They approached him identifying themselves as police officers telling him that he was under arrest on charges of loitering for the purposes of prostitution.
Chere allegedly produced his police identity card and showed it to Mambinge.
Mambinge doubted the authenticity of the ID citing that it was not legible and resisted arrest.
This forced Chere to allegedly draw a pellet (air) gun from his car and pointed it to Mambinge, thereby effecting arrest upon him.
Chere is further alleged to have handcuffed Mambinge and pushed him into his car.
They allegedly took him to Chitungwiza Police Station using Chere's car and upon reaching the main gate, at the station, the duo pulled off the road.
The court heard that they started demanding money from Mambinge so that they could release him.
Mambinge told them that he had no cash but indicated to have some in his EcoCash wallet.
They allegedly instructed him to transfer it to their number 0773 782 390 bearing the particulars of Believe Mutemasango.
After sending the money, the duo allegedly released him and later shared the money.
The matter was reported to the police leading to their arrest.
Constable Tafadzwa Matigimu (23) of Glen View 1 in Harare is jointly charged with Taitos Chere (26) of Unit P in Chitungwiza for allegedly using a pellet gun to arrest Amon Mambinge of Unit L.
Chere is also self-employed as a taxi driver at Makoni Shopping Centre.
The pair denied extortion charges when they appeared before Chitungwiza magistrate Ms Tafadzwa Miti.
Ms Miti remanded the duo to today for trial on $50 bail each.
Prosecuting, Mr Edmond Ndambakuwa alleged that on October 1 this year, and at around 12.30am, Mambinge who is director at Passneck Investments, went to Unit K to see his female friend, Blessing Bandura.
On arrival, the court heard that Mambinge parked his vehicle in front of Bandura's main gate at her house.
The duo, who were on an unsanctioned patrol driving in a Toyota Spacio, spotted Mambinge's parked car.
They approached him identifying themselves as police officers telling him that he was under arrest on charges of loitering for the purposes of prostitution.
Chere allegedly produced his police identity card and showed it to Mambinge.
Mambinge doubted the authenticity of the ID citing that it was not legible and resisted arrest.
This forced Chere to allegedly draw a pellet (air) gun from his car and pointed it to Mambinge, thereby effecting arrest upon him.
Chere is further alleged to have handcuffed Mambinge and pushed him into his car.
They allegedly took him to Chitungwiza Police Station using Chere's car and upon reaching the main gate, at the station, the duo pulled off the road.
The court heard that they started demanding money from Mambinge so that they could release him.
Mambinge told them that he had no cash but indicated to have some in his EcoCash wallet.
They allegedly instructed him to transfer it to their number 0773 782 390 bearing the particulars of Believe Mutemasango.
After sending the money, the duo allegedly released him and later shared the money.
The matter was reported to the police leading to their arrest.
Source - the herald
