Unlicensed driver in court for reckless driving

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A 20-year-old unlicensed driver, who during the joint operation between the police and the Zimbabwe National Road Authority (Zinara) allegedly closed a window trapping a cop’s arm before driving away and dragging the law enforcement agent, appeared in court on Friday.

A 20-year-old unlicensed driver, who during the joint operation between the police and the Zimbabwe National Road Authority (Zinara) allegedly closed a window trapping a cop’s arm before driving away and dragging the law enforcement agent, appeared in court on Friday.

PRESTIGE GAMA OWN CORRESPONDENT

Sethulelwe Bhebhe of Pumula suburb appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Temba Chimiso where he pleaded not guilty to the third charge of reckless driving and guilty to two other charges.

He was remanded in custody to October 22, where he is to defend himself.

On count one, he was charged with driving through an amber traffic light and failing to stop after being directed to do so by police officers.

On the second count, he was charged with reckless driving after he hit the traffic cones while trying to evade the police roadblock.

On count three, he was charged with driving without a licence. In his response, Bhebhe said he did not refuse to stop. Instead he accused the police officer of breaking his car window.

“I did not refuse to stop, but the officer forcefully broke my window and the passengers said I should go since he had broken the window,” he said. Prosecuting, Whatmore Tembo told the court that on October 6 at around 9am Bhebhe drove through an amber traffic light and when police officers tried to stop him, he refused to stop and proceeded into town.

Constable Razoras Mfushwa saw Bhebhe approaching him, as he was assigned to stop cars during the operation.

He stopped Bhebhe and requested that he produces his driver’s licence, but he kept quiet and tried to escape by reversing his car but was blocked by other vehicles behind him.

“I asked Bhebhe to produce his driver’s licence, but he stared at me and said nothing,” the cop said.

“Since all the doors were locked, I tried to switch off the engine, having recognised he planned to escape, but he pushed the window upwards trapping my arm inside as he drove away.”

Bhebhe allegedly drove over police traffic cones, but was later arrested when he was coming from town trying to repeat the same trick.