News / Regional
Council foreman in court for criminal abuse of duty
01 Jul 2016 at 13:16hrs | Views
A CITY OF Mutare electrical foreman was arrested for allegedly demanding bribe from a contractor and received trap money.
Stephen Tsanga (48) is being charged with criminal abuse of duty as defined in Section 174 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter9:23
He was not asked to plead when he appeared before senior Mutare magistrate, Mrs Sekai Chiundura.
Fletcher Karombe prosecuted.
Allegations were that sometime in October 2014, Thomas Munjoma was awarded a contract to install and service traffic lights at Mutare Central Intersection by the City of Mutare.
Stephen Tsanga who is an electrical foreman with the City of Mutare was charged with the duty of recommending Munjoma's contract.
Karombe said after the successful installation of the traffic lights by Munjoma and payment of his dues by the council Tsanga allegedly demanded a bribe of $2000 from Munjoma, alleging that the contract had been awarded through his blessings.
Munjoma refused to pay the bribe, but was continuously pestered and threatened by Tsanga that he could use his power to block any future traffic lights installation by him in the city if the $2 000 bribe was not paid.
It was further alleged that Munjoma later succumbed to the pressure and offered to pay a deposit of $500 as a bribe and on June 24, 2016, the matter was brought to the attention of the police and a trap was set.
"On June 25, a trap authority was sought and obtained by the police. Munjoma supplied five $100 notes that were photocopied.
"The trap was conducted at Mutare Sports Club where Tsanga had arranged to meet with Munjoma for the deal.
"When he arrived, he approached Munjoma who was already at the place. He was allegedly given the trap money and as he walked towards his car, police detectives sprang from a bush and arrested him.
"It was also alleged that when Tsanga saw the detectives he threw away the trap money within their sight. However, the trap money was recovered from where it had been thrown," said Karombe.
Tsanga was initially remanded out of custody to July 12 on $150 bail.
He was ordered to surrender his travelling documents, not to interfere with State witnesses and to continue residing at his given address.
He was also ordered to report at Mutare Central Police Station, CID department once every fortnight on a Friday.
Stephen Tsanga (48) is being charged with criminal abuse of duty as defined in Section 174 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter9:23
He was not asked to plead when he appeared before senior Mutare magistrate, Mrs Sekai Chiundura.
Fletcher Karombe prosecuted.
Allegations were that sometime in October 2014, Thomas Munjoma was awarded a contract to install and service traffic lights at Mutare Central Intersection by the City of Mutare.
Stephen Tsanga who is an electrical foreman with the City of Mutare was charged with the duty of recommending Munjoma's contract.
Karombe said after the successful installation of the traffic lights by Munjoma and payment of his dues by the council Tsanga allegedly demanded a bribe of $2000 from Munjoma, alleging that the contract had been awarded through his blessings.
Munjoma refused to pay the bribe, but was continuously pestered and threatened by Tsanga that he could use his power to block any future traffic lights installation by him in the city if the $2 000 bribe was not paid.
"On June 25, a trap authority was sought and obtained by the police. Munjoma supplied five $100 notes that were photocopied.
"The trap was conducted at Mutare Sports Club where Tsanga had arranged to meet with Munjoma for the deal.
"When he arrived, he approached Munjoma who was already at the place. He was allegedly given the trap money and as he walked towards his car, police detectives sprang from a bush and arrested him.
"It was also alleged that when Tsanga saw the detectives he threw away the trap money within their sight. However, the trap money was recovered from where it had been thrown," said Karombe.
Tsanga was initially remanded out of custody to July 12 on $150 bail.
He was ordered to surrender his travelling documents, not to interfere with State witnesses and to continue residing at his given address.
He was also ordered to report at Mutare Central Police Station, CID department once every fortnight on a Friday.
Source - Manica Post
