Opinion / Columnist
Suspect walks scot-free as detectives give contradicting statements in court
23 Jun 2017 at 22:01hrs | Views
A Guruve magistrate Shingirai Mutiro acquitted a Guruve man Thomas Mambo (37) of illegal mining after the state failed to give sufficient evidence of the case in court.
Mambo through his famous lawyer Nancy Mabhoyi pleaded not guilty to the allegations levelled against him.
It emerged in court that on the 9th day of May 2017, detectives from CID Minerals Unit Guruve received a tip off to the effect that the accused person was prospecting for gold at Muroyiwa Village, Chief Chipuriro Guruve.
Acting upon the tip off Detective constable Madhlauta and Detective Constable Gatsi proceeded to Muroyiwa village where they found the accused person crushing gold ores using a hummer putting it in a 20 litre yellow plastic bucket.
Detectives from (CID) Minerals Unit Guruve identified themselves as police officers and requested the accused person to produce any document authorising him to prospect for gold but he had none leading to his arrest.
However, in court the two Detectives gave contradicting statements as to why they managed to arrest one suspect and the rest fleeing yet they were working on a tip off.
In Mambo's defence through his lawyer he argued that he was doing a part time job as he was hired by illegal miners to crush the gold ore hence when he saw the police he did not run away as what was done by illegal miners.
In the close of the case Guruve magistrate acquitted Mambo saying," The state has failed to prove a case beyond reasonable doubt and accused is found not guilty," ruled Mutiro.
Mambo through his famous lawyer Nancy Mabhoyi pleaded not guilty to the allegations levelled against him.
It emerged in court that on the 9th day of May 2017, detectives from CID Minerals Unit Guruve received a tip off to the effect that the accused person was prospecting for gold at Muroyiwa Village, Chief Chipuriro Guruve.
Acting upon the tip off Detective constable Madhlauta and Detective Constable Gatsi proceeded to Muroyiwa village where they found the accused person crushing gold ores using a hummer putting it in a 20 litre yellow plastic bucket.
Detectives from (CID) Minerals Unit Guruve identified themselves as police officers and requested the accused person to produce any document authorising him to prospect for gold but he had none leading to his arrest.
However, in court the two Detectives gave contradicting statements as to why they managed to arrest one suspect and the rest fleeing yet they were working on a tip off.
In Mambo's defence through his lawyer he argued that he was doing a part time job as he was hired by illegal miners to crush the gold ore hence when he saw the police he did not run away as what was done by illegal miners.
In the close of the case Guruve magistrate acquitted Mambo saying," The state has failed to prove a case beyond reasonable doubt and accused is found not guilty," ruled Mutiro.
Source - Byo24News
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