A 36-YEAR-OLD Makokoba man in Bulawayo on Monday accused a State witness of bribing the police to arrest him for a theft he claims not to have committed.
PATIENCE RATAMBWA OWN CORRESPONDENT
Cabangani Sibanda accused Jamela Sibanda of bribing cops with $350 so they arrest him despite the latter being in possession of the stolen goods when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Gladmore Mushove.
He was remanded in custody to today for sentencing.
“You think I don’t know that you gave the police $350 so that they arrest me for your crime?” he asked.
“I am in prison now because I am poor and cannot afford that amount of money even though I am innocent.
“Your worship, I wish you could send this man to prison for just a day so that he knows how it feels. I know if he goes there he will stop telling the court lies.”
Allegations against Cabangani were that he embarked on a house-breaking spree in Mzilikazi sometime in August this year stealing household goods such as plasma television sets and two-in-one blankets.
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He allegedly hired Legion Mpofu’s cab and went to Jamela’s place in Makokoba. Jamela said he was related to Mpofu and bought the stolen goods without knowing since the accused was accompanied by someone he knew.
Cabangani sold one television set for $100.
Days later, the accused sold a blanket to Jamela for $20 before leaving another television set at his house promising to collect it later.
Police raided Jamela’s place, confiscated two television sets and one blanket, and arrested Jamela.
Jamela then explained to the police that he had innocently purchased the goods from Cabangani, who had claimed to have bought them from Botswana.
“I did not know this man until he came to my house selling the plasma set,” he said. “He said he was from Botswana and with the way he looked at that time, you would not deny it because he looked smart. He was just like this prosecutor here.”
However, Cabangani questioned why Jamela was not further detained even after being found in possession of the stolen items.
“Why did the police release you even after they found the stolen things in your house?” he asked.
“This shows that you knew each other. This is how you got me arrested for your crime.”
