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Cop turned 'shebeen queen' locks colleagues inside
8 hrs ago |
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A Bulawayo-based police officer who locked her fellow officers inside her illegal shebeen to stop them from confiscating alcohol has been fined US$300.
Modester Nyambe (31), who was attached to the Provincial Reaction Group, appeared before Isheunesu Mathoba facing a charge of obstructing or defeating the course of justice. She was represented by her lawyer, Toboka Nyathi.
The court ordered Nyambe to pay a US$300 fine on or before February 28, failing which she will serve six months in prison.
In passing sentence, Magistrate Mathoba said Nyambe had abused her position as a law enforcement officer.
"The offender obstructed the course of justice when she prevented police officers who wanted to confiscate alcohol from her shebeen. She abused her office as she blocked officers who were carrying out their official duties," he said.
"The moral blameworthiness is high because, as an officer, she was supposed to comply but she did the opposite and locked them inside."
The complainant, Lloyd Mazura, told the court that he and his team acted on a tip-off about an illegal drinking spot operating in Bulawayo's city centre.
"We received a tip-off that there was a shebeen operating in the city. We headed there and found a man selling alcohol. He told us that he was not the owner," he said.
The man, identified as Dodsway Mutsungi, allegedly informed the officers that he was employed by Nyambe and called her to the scene.
Assistant Inspector Mazura said Nyambe arrived swiftly, dressed in police uniform, and attempted to persuade officers not to confiscate the alcohol, valued at approximately US$5 000. When her efforts failed, she allegedly escalated matters.
"She seized the keys and dashed outside the room before locking us inside. We had to call the officer-in-charge, who then dispatched a team to open the door for us," he told the court.
According to principal prosecutor Milton Ncube, the incident occurred on December 30 last year shortly after 3PM. He said Nyambe locked the gate to prevent officers from seizing the alcohol as exhibits.
Police from the Support Unit were later dispatched to the scene, leading to Nyambe's arrest.
Modester Nyambe (31), who was attached to the Provincial Reaction Group, appeared before Isheunesu Mathoba facing a charge of obstructing or defeating the course of justice. She was represented by her lawyer, Toboka Nyathi.
The court ordered Nyambe to pay a US$300 fine on or before February 28, failing which she will serve six months in prison.
In passing sentence, Magistrate Mathoba said Nyambe had abused her position as a law enforcement officer.
"The offender obstructed the course of justice when she prevented police officers who wanted to confiscate alcohol from her shebeen. She abused her office as she blocked officers who were carrying out their official duties," he said.
"The moral blameworthiness is high because, as an officer, she was supposed to comply but she did the opposite and locked them inside."
"We received a tip-off that there was a shebeen operating in the city. We headed there and found a man selling alcohol. He told us that he was not the owner," he said.
The man, identified as Dodsway Mutsungi, allegedly informed the officers that he was employed by Nyambe and called her to the scene.
Assistant Inspector Mazura said Nyambe arrived swiftly, dressed in police uniform, and attempted to persuade officers not to confiscate the alcohol, valued at approximately US$5 000. When her efforts failed, she allegedly escalated matters.
"She seized the keys and dashed outside the room before locking us inside. We had to call the officer-in-charge, who then dispatched a team to open the door for us," he told the court.
According to principal prosecutor Milton Ncube, the incident occurred on December 30 last year shortly after 3PM. He said Nyambe locked the gate to prevent officers from seizing the alcohol as exhibits.
Police from the Support Unit were later dispatched to the scene, leading to Nyambe's arrest.
Source - online
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