A SUSPECTED bogus police officer allegedly boarded a pirate taxi plying the Paddonhurst-City route and extorted $20 from the driver, before ordering him to drive back home and stop pirating if he wanted to avoid the wrath of the law. SILAS NKALA STAFF REPORTER
Manyeruke Mafukidze (36) pleaded not guilty to charges of impersonation and extortion when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Sibongile Msipa Marondedze.
On Tuesday the magistrate remanded him to January 27 for continuation of trial and he is out of custody on $50 bail.
The court heard that on November 21, last year at 3pm the complainant, Moreblessing Chikweza (59) of Nkulumane was at Paddonhurst shopping centre when Mafukidze boarded his car with town-bound passengers.
Chikweza was allegedly using the car as a pirate taxi.
On reaching Robert Mugabe Way in the city, Mafukidze introduced himself to Chikweza as a police officer and indicated that he was under arrest for pirating.
Mafukidze told him that he was taking him to Ross Camp.
He allowed him to drop off the passengers and later demanded $20 before releasing him and ordering that he go home and stop pirating.
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Mafukidze told him that the operation to get rid of pirate taxis was continuing and he must stop it if he wanted to escape the wrath of the law.
Chikweza later told his colleagues about the issue.
On November 21 Chikweza got information that Mafukidze had been arrested for impersonation and extortion and he went to Bulawayo Central Police Station, where he positively identified him as the person who had extorted money fromhim.
