News / Regional
Policemen arrested for giving suspect freedom
27 Jun 2015 at 03:22hrs | Views
TWO Gwanda-based police officers have landed in trouble for allegedly benefiting a suspect by altering an assault charge to a lesser one and unlawfully releasing him from detention.
Elvis Munyaradzi Babi, 24, and Martin Chikwava, 32, who are police officers stationed at Gwanda Central Police Station, yesterday appeared before magistrate, Sheila Nazombe, to answer to charges of criminal abuse of duty as public officers.
They pleaded not guilty and were remanded out of custody to July 9 for trial.
Prosecuting, Takunda Mafudze said on June 21 this year, Babi and Chikwava commenced duty at the Charge Office at 3PM together with other officers.
He said during the course of their duty, a suspect, Bukhosi Ndlovu was arrested for allegedly committing assault and was jointly charged with Tsigai Maphosa.
"The officer in charge, Chief Inspector Kennedy Chiriga, instructed the two police officers to detain Ndlovu and Maphosa for the assault and the two entered details in the detention book.
"On the same day at about 9PM, the two accused persons acting in consent, without lawful authority from the Officer-in-Charge, Crime) of the station, connived and altered the charge from assault to disorderly conduct, for Ndlovu.
"The two accused persons went on to invite a deposit fine of $10 for the disorderly conduct charge from Ndlovu who paid and was released from detention leaving Maphosa in cells," Mafudze told the court.
He said Babi and Chikwava, who are both constables, had no right or authority to alter charges, assess deposit fine and release the suspect.
"The accused persons showed favour to Ndlovu by reducing the charge to a fine-assessable one. They misrepresented facts that they had been authorised to release the detained person by the Officer-in-Charge, (Crime) and this was discovered to be false," said Mafudze.
Elvis Munyaradzi Babi, 24, and Martin Chikwava, 32, who are police officers stationed at Gwanda Central Police Station, yesterday appeared before magistrate, Sheila Nazombe, to answer to charges of criminal abuse of duty as public officers.
They pleaded not guilty and were remanded out of custody to July 9 for trial.
Prosecuting, Takunda Mafudze said on June 21 this year, Babi and Chikwava commenced duty at the Charge Office at 3PM together with other officers.
He said during the course of their duty, a suspect, Bukhosi Ndlovu was arrested for allegedly committing assault and was jointly charged with Tsigai Maphosa.
"On the same day at about 9PM, the two accused persons acting in consent, without lawful authority from the Officer-in-Charge, Crime) of the station, connived and altered the charge from assault to disorderly conduct, for Ndlovu.
"The two accused persons went on to invite a deposit fine of $10 for the disorderly conduct charge from Ndlovu who paid and was released from detention leaving Maphosa in cells," Mafudze told the court.
He said Babi and Chikwava, who are both constables, had no right or authority to alter charges, assess deposit fine and release the suspect.
"The accused persons showed favour to Ndlovu by reducing the charge to a fine-assessable one. They misrepresented facts that they had been authorised to release the detained person by the Officer-in-Charge, (Crime) and this was discovered to be false," said Mafudze.
Source - chronicle
