News / Regional
Four police officers assault suspect
23 Apr 2016 at 08:12hrs | Views
FOUR police officers from Kezi have been arraigned for allegedly assaulting a villager after accusing him of insulting a member of the Neighbourhood Watch Committee.
Bothwell Tsiga, 25, James Mandidzinga, 31, Regis Jakarasi, 25, and Doubt Mapfumo, 38, whose ranks were not mentioned in court, but all of Kezi Police Station, pleaded not guilty to assault before Gwanda magistrate Nomagugu Ncube.
Request Moyo of Chief Bakwayi Sithole area in Kezi was allegedly hospitalised following the brutal assault in the Charge Office at Kezi Police Station.
Two witnesses including the complainant have testified.
They told the court the cops assaulted Moyo and he saved himself by calling a senior policeman.
The prosecutor, Mncedisi Dube, said on July 31 last year at about 7AM, Moyo went to Kezi Police Station.
"He was making a follow up on a letter left at his homestead by police officers ordering him to present himself at the police station," said Dube.
The court heard that when he entered the Charge Office, an officer ordered him to remove his shoes and sit behind the counter.
The NWC member who claimed to have been insulted, Mandla Moyo, allegedly entered the Charge Office and one of the police officers asked Request why he was insulting the police.
Immediately thereafter, Dube said, Tsiga entered holding a baton and started assaulting Request.
The other three allegedly joined in.
They later indicated that Moyo should pay a fine and that was when he phoned the senior cop, the court heard.
Dube told the court that the cop, a Superintendent Mpofu, pleaded with the quartet to stop assaulting the complainant.
"The four accused released Moyo and he went for treatment at Kezi Hospital. He proceeded to Bulawayo where a medical report was compiled," said the prosecutor.
"A formal report was made to the police leading to the arrest of the four police officers."
The trial continues on April 28 and the State has summoned a Chief Inspector Muza from Gwanda police to testify as he was said to have investigated the matter at some point.
Bothwell Tsiga, 25, James Mandidzinga, 31, Regis Jakarasi, 25, and Doubt Mapfumo, 38, whose ranks were not mentioned in court, but all of Kezi Police Station, pleaded not guilty to assault before Gwanda magistrate Nomagugu Ncube.
Request Moyo of Chief Bakwayi Sithole area in Kezi was allegedly hospitalised following the brutal assault in the Charge Office at Kezi Police Station.
Two witnesses including the complainant have testified.
They told the court the cops assaulted Moyo and he saved himself by calling a senior policeman.
The prosecutor, Mncedisi Dube, said on July 31 last year at about 7AM, Moyo went to Kezi Police Station.
"He was making a follow up on a letter left at his homestead by police officers ordering him to present himself at the police station," said Dube.
The court heard that when he entered the Charge Office, an officer ordered him to remove his shoes and sit behind the counter.
The NWC member who claimed to have been insulted, Mandla Moyo, allegedly entered the Charge Office and one of the police officers asked Request why he was insulting the police.
Immediately thereafter, Dube said, Tsiga entered holding a baton and started assaulting Request.
The other three allegedly joined in.
They later indicated that Moyo should pay a fine and that was when he phoned the senior cop, the court heard.
Dube told the court that the cop, a Superintendent Mpofu, pleaded with the quartet to stop assaulting the complainant.
"The four accused released Moyo and he went for treatment at Kezi Hospital. He proceeded to Bulawayo where a medical report was compiled," said the prosecutor.
"A formal report was made to the police leading to the arrest of the four police officers."
The trial continues on April 28 and the State has summoned a Chief Inspector Muza from Gwanda police to testify as he was said to have investigated the matter at some point.
Source - Chronicle
