Two ZRP officers in hot soup over US$70 bribe
A police duo landed in the dock yesterday after they allegedly received a US$70 bribe from a suspect they had held in police cells prior his initial court appearance.
The two, Faith Kaseke and Rodney Magocha who are assistant inspectors at Mabelreign Police station, appeared before Harare regional magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa charged with criminal abuse of duty.
They were released unconditionally as they had been summoned to court.
Allegations are that on October 3, Nigel Mucha was arrested at around 1130pm at house number 3664 Tynwald North for defaulting court.
The police officers were armed with a warrant of arrest.
Nigel Mucha was detained at Mabelreign Police station holding cells and no entry was made in the detention book.
The next day, Mucha allegedly asked Magocha the day and time he was to appear at court.
Magocha allegedly indicated that he was knocking off duty and he would be assisted by the incoming shift on condition that he pays US$100 bribe money.
Later that morning, Mucha asked Kaseke what time he would be going to court and was told that he would remain in custody.
Mucha called a friend Tungamirai Chitsungo to bring the US$100 so that he could be released.
Tungamirai Chitsungo approached Patrick Nyamutongowa whom he knew worked for an anti-corruption organization, SARACO. Tungamirai Chitsungo had raised US$70,00 and was accompanied by Patrick Nyamutongowato Police General Headquarters Internal Investigations where a trap was applied and a certificate issued by Chief Superintendent Chipo K. Chokuda.
The trap certificate authorized the use of one US$20 note serial number PG07990494H, four US$10 notes with serial numbers QF 14636357A, PD17127198B, QB07534035A and PB34526001 and two US$5 notes with serial numbers MB 81042182D and PC 71431610A.
Nyamutongowa and Tungamirai Chitsungo proceeded to Mabelreign
Police station with the trap money and arrived at 1635hours.
Nyamutongowa handed over the trap money to Kaseke who received it.
Nyamutongowa signalled to the anti-corruption team headed by Inspector Chinyamunjiko that the trap money had been handed over to Kaseke.
The trap team that included Assistant Inspector Edson Demba and Assistant Inspector Nkosana Taviguta swiftly reacted, and recovered the money from her.
Kaseke was shown the trap certificate which she checked and saw that the money recovered from her was had been serialized on the certificate.
Rufaro Chonzi prosecuted.
