Bulawayo officer-in-charge of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) fraud section, Chief Detective Inspector George Machinga has accused fellow police officers of trying to frame him following his arrest for alleged extortion.
SILAS NKALA STAFF REPORTER
Machinga (44) was arrested early this year for allegedly demanding $300 from Pardon Dube who was facing charges of masquerading as a lawyer.
His lawyer Mlamuli Ncube yesterday told lead investigator Chief Inspector Maxwell Nsingo during cross examination that detectives planted the alleged bribe money while Machinga was using the toilet.
Ncube said the detectives had failed to find any money in his client’s office until after he left for the toilet.
He said Nsingo took away Machinga’s office keys and they were not handed back to him.
“I put it to you that when accused went to the toilet you did not stop the search and did not lock the office,” Ncube said.
“Since you did not lock the office and give him the keys when he went to the toilet it would be possible that one of you might have planted the money in the cabinet since you had taken two hours searching without finding the money.”
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He said the police had reason to frame Machinga because one of the top cops was angry that he had arrested his only sister.
Nsingo said the search for the bribe money took about one hour 30 minutes and was conducted by three detectives.
He dismissed insinuations that there was a plot to frame Machinga on orders of a senior police officer only identified as Maningi.
Ncube said Nsingo had even boasted he would recover the money from Machinga’s office when the accused returned from the toilet, an accusation he denied.
“I put it to you that you never recovered the money from the accused’s office, but one of you planted the money when the accused went to the toilet,” the lawyer persisted.
“The evidence you brought to this court was tailored to suit your interests.”
Nsingo had told the court that cops raided Machinga’s office soon after he received money from Dube.
“In his body search I found a wallet which contained some money and his personal documents,” he said. “Some of the money I found had the serial numbers which we had photocopied.”
Nsingo said Machinga threatened to assault him during the search as he insisted that he wanted to use the toilet.
He said three detectives accompanied Machinga to the toilet and the money was recovered 30 minutes later leading to the top cop’s arrest and detention at Donnington Police Station.
Bulawayo magistrate Gladmore Mushove is handling the case.
According to the State’s case, on June 19, Dube was summoned by a Detective Sergeant Ncube to the CID fraud section on allegations of fraud.
He allegedly approached Machinga to seek clarification on the matter and was advised to look for $550.
Machinga allegedly indicated $300 would be used to buy Dube’s freedom and $250 to refund the alleged victim of the fraud, a Cordellia Bhachisi.
On June 20, Dube allegedly sought the help of police commanders and $300 was used to trap Machinga.
He sought the help of a commander at police headquarters and a plan was hatched to trap Machinga.
The case was remanded to August 20 for continuation of trial.
