Mvuma cops nabbed over bribe

News
TWO police officers based at Mvuma CID last Friday appeared in court facing charges of criminal abuse of office

TWO police officers based at Mvuma CID last Friday appeared in court facing charges of criminal abuse of office after they allegedly demanded $700 from a fraud suspect.

REPORT BY STEPHEN CHADENGA

The two, Jealous Munyati and Andrew Konje, a detective sergeant and constable respectively, are alleged to have approached Aniel Manyimo who was facing fraud charges and advised him to pay them so that he could avoid going to prison, as he was facing a serious crime.

However, the two police officers represented by Tonderai Chitere, of Chitere, Chidawanyika and partners have denied the charges arguing that they were set up.

It is alleged that on June 29, the accused persons received a report of fraud from one Darlington Puza who accused Manyimo of selling his plot to two different people. The plot was allegedly sold to Puza and one Stephen Mapfumo.

Munyati and Konje allegedly received $20 from Manyimo on July 2, but told him the money was little.

Manyimo allegedly gave them another $50, but the cops asked him to pay $700 more as they also needed to pay prosecutors at the Gweru Magistrates’ Court.

On July 5, Manyimo reported the two to one Superintendent Manhai. A trap was set up at the Gweru courts and the two were apprehended.

Gweru magistrate Rutendo Muchena postponed the trial to August 8.