Top cop freed after 9 months jail term

Top police officer Assistant Commissioner Gideon Baloyi, who was last year jailed nine months for corruptly facilitating the release of a fraud suspect, was yesterday cleared of any wrong-doing by the High Court.

Justice Francis Bere, sitting with Justice Charles Hungwe, yesterday found Asst Comm Baloyi not guilty of the charges of putting the police force into disrepute through corruptly instructing a junior officer to release a fraud suspect.

The decision was made after a strong appeal by Asst Comm Baloyi's lawyer Misheck Hogwe of Hogwe Dzimirai and Partners.

Quashing the conviction and sentence imposed on Asst Comm Baloyi - Justice Bere said there was no credible evidence confirming that the senior officer interfered with the case.

It was the court's finding that desperate efforts by the investigating officer, Detective Assistant Inspector Mubhawu and Chief Inspector Allison Nyamupaguma, to nail Asst Comm Baloyi were not helpful in proving his guilt.

The court ruled that Asst Insp Mubhawu confirmed to the court that he had taken instructions to free the suspect from the then officer-in-charge at CID Serious Fraud Inspector Masara and not Asst Comm Baloyi.

The same position, the court said, was also buttressed by Insp Masara's testimony that exonerated Asst Comm Baloyi.