A CONSTABLE based at Pumula Police Station in Bulawayo was yesterday slapped with two-and-a-half year jail term for extorting $200 and R30 from two city residents he had arrested for illegal vending.
STAFF REPORTER
Windas Mudenda (31) of Old Pumula pleaded not guilty to the two counts of extortion when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Nyasha Kuture yesterday, but he was convicted and sentenced to four years in jail.
One year was suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour while six months were suspended on condition that he restituted the two complainants their $200 and R30 respectively.
The State represented by Tarisai Mutarisi indicated that on July 25 at Entumbane complex, Mudenda and a colleague arrested Sehlisiwe Dube for illegal vending and demanded that she pays $200 for her freedom and she complied.
On July 29, Mudenda and his accomplices went to Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street in the city centre and took R30 and six dried fish from Hatirarami Chibane accusing him of illegal vending after threatening to lock him up.
Mudenda was arrested following numerous reports that he had extorted money from a number of vendors.
The two positively identified him during an identification parade at the police station.
