Policeman kidnaps fellow cop at roadblock

A POLICE officer from Chivhu who was pirating while off-duty allegedly sped off with a traffic cop who had stopped him at a roadblock in Lalapanzi, a magistrate heard yesterday.

The police officer, Constable Innocent Chihumbu, 23, of number 175 Main Street in Chivhu, had failed to produce a driver's licence at the roadblock when he sped off with the traffic cop, Kizito Mahachi.

Chihumbu appeared before Gweru magistrate, Tendai Madanire, facing charges of kidnapping and driving without a licence.

He pleaded not guilty to both charges and was remanded in custody to today for continuation of trial.

Prosecuting Bernard Nyoni told the court that on November 3 around 11PM, Chihumbu was driving a Toyota Granvia along the Gweru-Mvuma road and had seven passengers on board.

Nyoni said Chihumbu is into the pirating business.

The court heard that Chihumbu was stopped at a roadblock in Lalapanzi by fellow traffic officers who then asked him to produce his driver's licence.

He failed to produce one arguing that he had left it at home.

Nyoni said a fellow traffic officer, Mahachi, who was involved in a heated argument with the accused, realised that Chihumbu was about to drive off and quickly jumped into the car intending to stop him from escaping.

The court heard that Chihumbu managed to speed off with Mahachi in the car.

Nyoni said Chihumbu was then arrested at the Mvuma tollgate by the same police officer he had sped away with.

He said he was ordered to drive back to the Lalapanzi roadblock.

The court heard that Chihumbu, instead of going back to Lalapanzi, drove towards Gweru with Mahachi still inside the car.

Nyoni said Mahachi re-arrested Chihumbu at another roadblock at the Sino-Cement turn off just after the tollgate.