News / Regional
Home Affairs officials jailed over bribe
12 Apr 2015 at 08:29hrs | Views
TWO Ministry of Home Affairs officials from Gokwe have been sentenced to a collective four years in prison after they were found guilty of demanding a bribe from a military officer in training who wanted to replace his national identity card.
Johnwhite Farai (40) of DA's camp and Peter Gibson Masvinya (38) of Green Valley in Gokwe had pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned before Gokwe magistrate Mr Shepherd Munjanja for contravening section 170 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act) Chapter 9.23.
The duo was convicted and sentenced to 24 months each, with six months suspended on each sentence on condition of good behaviour and the remaining 18 were suspended on condition that they perform 630 hours of community service.
The State's case was that on 21 January this year the complainant, Keith Murinda, an officer cadet based at 3.2 Infantry Battalion in Nyanga, approached the two accused persons at Gokwe South registrar's office seeking to replace a lost identity card.
The accused told him to pay $20 so that he could get a new ID. Murinda failed to produce the money and went to Harare where he was referred back to Gokwe where he had originally obtained the ID.
Murinda approached Masvinya who told him to give Farai $20 to which he complied and the ID was processed.
However, Farai did not receipt the money and Murinda became suspicious that the two could have connived.
He reported the matter to the police who carried out investigations immediately leading to the arrest of the two accused persons.
Mr Tineyi Chirigo appeared for the State.
The Ministry of Home Affairs recently vowed to decend on corrupt officials that have been implicated in dubious and opaque business transactions.
In an interview recently, Home Affairs permanent secretary Mr Melusi Matshiya said the ministry did not condone corruption and would not hesitate to arrest senior officials engaging in corrupt activities and finding sanctuary in Government.
Mr Matshiya said no individual was above the law.
"One needs to appreciate that it involves forensic investigations. Some allegations start as rumours which have to be sustained and once it becomes a prima facie case with substantial evidence, then the police take over as the institution with the arresting powers and those accused of corruption would be put to task.
"Some individuals have been specified and investigations have been carried out. Our principle is that within six months we should clear the cases and that is why some individuals have been exonerated because we do not want that cloud to be hanging around them. Those proved to be corrupt have been prosecuted," he said.
Johnwhite Farai (40) of DA's camp and Peter Gibson Masvinya (38) of Green Valley in Gokwe had pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned before Gokwe magistrate Mr Shepherd Munjanja for contravening section 170 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act) Chapter 9.23.
The duo was convicted and sentenced to 24 months each, with six months suspended on each sentence on condition of good behaviour and the remaining 18 were suspended on condition that they perform 630 hours of community service.
The State's case was that on 21 January this year the complainant, Keith Murinda, an officer cadet based at 3.2 Infantry Battalion in Nyanga, approached the two accused persons at Gokwe South registrar's office seeking to replace a lost identity card.
The accused told him to pay $20 so that he could get a new ID. Murinda failed to produce the money and went to Harare where he was referred back to Gokwe where he had originally obtained the ID.
Murinda approached Masvinya who told him to give Farai $20 to which he complied and the ID was processed.
However, Farai did not receipt the money and Murinda became suspicious that the two could have connived.
Mr Tineyi Chirigo appeared for the State.
The Ministry of Home Affairs recently vowed to decend on corrupt officials that have been implicated in dubious and opaque business transactions.
In an interview recently, Home Affairs permanent secretary Mr Melusi Matshiya said the ministry did not condone corruption and would not hesitate to arrest senior officials engaging in corrupt activities and finding sanctuary in Government.
Mr Matshiya said no individual was above the law.
"One needs to appreciate that it involves forensic investigations. Some allegations start as rumours which have to be sustained and once it becomes a prima facie case with substantial evidence, then the police take over as the institution with the arresting powers and those accused of corruption would be put to task.
"Some individuals have been specified and investigations have been carried out. Our principle is that within six months we should clear the cases and that is why some individuals have been exonerated because we do not want that cloud to be hanging around them. Those proved to be corrupt have been prosecuted," he said.
Source - sundaynews
