Cop kidnappers in court

A BULAWAYO Honda Fit driver and his friend have been arrested for allegedly kidnapping and robbing a police officer at knife point after giving him a lift.

Nervious Moyo (24) and Edmore Nkozo (27) yesterday appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Lungile Ncube. Moyo was charged with kidnapping and robbery while Nkozo faced a robbery charge.

They were not asked to plead and the magistrate said the duo would be summoned to court if the State sets a trial date.

Prosecuting, Mrs Memory Ndlovu said Moyo and Nkozo robbed Brian Mugandi, a police officer at Nkulumane Police Station last week in a bushy area along Victoria Falls Road after Moyo gave him a  lift.

Moyo is alleged to have been driving while Nkozo was sitting in the front passenger seat.

"On September 13 at around 12 noon, the complainant embarked on a red Honda Fit which the accused (Moyo) was driving," said Mrs Ndlovu.

"Upon reaching his destination at an intersection in Luveve suburb, the complainant asked the accused to drop him off but he kept driving until they reached a bushy area along Vic Falls Road and parked his vehicle."

She said Moyo and Nkozo ordered Mugandi, whose rank was not given, to disembark, before they robbed him of his phone and $73 at knife point.

Mrs Ndlovu said they fled from the scene and left Mugandi there.

In warned and cautioned statements, the duo denied the allegations saying they only gave him a lift and dropped him off at Emakhandeni suburb.

In a statement to the police, Mugandi said Moyo and Nkozo accused him of having arrested them before, hence the kidnap and robbery were a way of revenging.

The prosecutor said the phone was recovered.