Cop in court for possessing 350 cartoons of Zed destined for Bulawayo

A Fairbridge police officer was last week arraigned before the courts after he was found in possession of 350 cartoons of illegal Zed whisky from Mozambique.

Allec Mataruse (39) of Fairbridge Police Support Unit appeared before Mutare Magistrate, Mr Langton Mukwengi facing importation of prohibited goods and abuse of duty as a police officer charges.

The state led by public prosecutor Mr Fletcher Karombe said Mataruse hired a Toyota Canter from Godfrey Muponda who resides at Lobengula West, Bulawayo to transport Zed which had been smuggled from Mozambique.

The court heard that on February 23, Mataruse led Godfrey

Muponda from Bulawayo to Mutare where they loaded 350 cartoons of Zed destined to Bulawayo, Mataruse was driving the vehicle whilst in police uniform and Muponda was on the passenger side.

Upon arrival at Grange road turn off, Odzi along Harare-Mutare road the vehicle was stopped at a roadblock which was being manned by Sergeant Makosa and others.

They searched the car and Zed was found which led to the arrest of the two. The case continues on March 14.