Bogus cops steals girl’s cellphone

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A 20-YEAR-OLD man who allegedly masqueraded as a police officer and robbed a 14-year-old girl of her cellphone close to Sizinda Hall in Bulawayo, was on Monday remanded in custody to September 7.

A 20-YEAR-OLD man who allegedly masqueraded as a police officer and robbed a 14-year-old girl of her cellphone close to Sizinda Hall in Bulawayo, was on Monday remanded in custody to September 7. OWN CORRESPONDENT

Wellington Matimati appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Sheunesu Matova for robbery as defined in Section 126 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.

For the State, Kingston Mukanganwi told the court that on August 1, Matimati unlawfully and intentionally used violence to coerce the juvenile to relinquish her Nokia cellphone valued at $45 by assaulting her using open hands.

“On 1 August at around 7pm, the juvenile was coming from the shopping centre heading home when she met Matimati who appeared from the dark near Sizinda Hall. Matimati identified himself as police officer and started accusing the juvenile of being a thief,” Mukanganwi said.

“Matimati grabbed the juvenile by her neck and strangled her and shouted for his three accomplices who also came and closed her eyes using a jacket and hands. They searched the juvenile and took her cellphone and disappeared.

“Matimati dragged the juvenile to the bush and forced her to remove her clothes but she refused.

“The juvenile screamed for help and was helped by the community. Matimati was arrested by the members of the neighbourhood watch and handed over to the police,” he said.

The cellphone was not recovered.

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