News / Regional
Man gets nine months jail for bribe attempt
25 Feb 2016 at 12:10hrs | Views
A MAN who tried to bribe a police officer at Plumtree Border Post will spend the next nine months in prison.
Gatsha Masotsha, 44, of Hillside suburb in Bulawayo, was intercepted by police officers while in possession of 80 litres of petrol which he was carrying in plastic containers.
The cops ordered him to pay a fine at the Environmental Management Authority office at the border post for improper storage of fuel.
Masotsha offered one of the police officers, Sergeant Archford Muguta, P400 to evade arrest.
Plumtree magistrate Livard Philemon convicted him on his own plea of guilty to bribery.
He sentenced Masotsha to 12 months imprisonment and suspended three months for five years on condition that he does not within the period, commit an offence of a similar nature.
Philemon said Masotsha deserved a custodial jail term.
"People who fight against corruption are failing because of people like you who go around offering bribes so that justice doesn't prevail.
"In the process you will be hindering law enforcement agents from carrying out their duties.
"People like you deserve a jail sentence so that you can be taught a lesson," he said.
In mitigation, Masotsha told the court that he offered a bribe as he thought that was what the police officer expected him to do upon being arrested.
He said he was not aware the fine for his offence was only $20.
Prosecuting, Rose Sibanda said Masotsha was intercepted on January 24.
"Masotsha arrived at the Plumtree Border Post driving a Toyota Ipsum coming from Botswana. He was intercepted by police officers at the gate.
"The police found 80 litres of petrol which was stored in plastic containers instead of jerry cans. The cops arrested Masotsha for transporting a hazardous substance in an unsuitable container," said Sibanda.
She said instead of complying with the police, Masotsha went on to offer one of the police officers money in exchange for his release.
Sibanda said the police officer did not entertain Masotsha's plea leading to his immediate arrest and the police confiscated the money which was meant for the bribe.
Gatsha Masotsha, 44, of Hillside suburb in Bulawayo, was intercepted by police officers while in possession of 80 litres of petrol which he was carrying in plastic containers.
The cops ordered him to pay a fine at the Environmental Management Authority office at the border post for improper storage of fuel.
Masotsha offered one of the police officers, Sergeant Archford Muguta, P400 to evade arrest.
Plumtree magistrate Livard Philemon convicted him on his own plea of guilty to bribery.
He sentenced Masotsha to 12 months imprisonment and suspended three months for five years on condition that he does not within the period, commit an offence of a similar nature.
Philemon said Masotsha deserved a custodial jail term.
"People who fight against corruption are failing because of people like you who go around offering bribes so that justice doesn't prevail.
"People like you deserve a jail sentence so that you can be taught a lesson," he said.
In mitigation, Masotsha told the court that he offered a bribe as he thought that was what the police officer expected him to do upon being arrested.
He said he was not aware the fine for his offence was only $20.
Prosecuting, Rose Sibanda said Masotsha was intercepted on January 24.
"Masotsha arrived at the Plumtree Border Post driving a Toyota Ipsum coming from Botswana. He was intercepted by police officers at the gate.
"The police found 80 litres of petrol which was stored in plastic containers instead of jerry cans. The cops arrested Masotsha for transporting a hazardous substance in an unsuitable container," said Sibanda.
She said instead of complying with the police, Masotsha went on to offer one of the police officers money in exchange for his release.
Sibanda said the police officer did not entertain Masotsha's plea leading to his immediate arrest and the police confiscated the money which was meant for the bribe.
Source - chronicle
