A prison officer based at Hwahwa Prison and a court interpreter based at the Gweru Magistrates’ Court were yesterday jailed for an effective five months each for receiving a $200 bribe to facilitate the release of a rape suspect from custody.
BY STEPHEN CHADENGA
Kudakwashe Ndebele, a prison officer class 2, and Welcome Phiri, a court interpreter, had appeared before magistrate Tayengwa Chibanda charged with criminal abuse of office as public officers.
The court heard that Ndebele received $200 from the suspect Admire Gambiza’s relative Innocencia Murakwani to facilitate the release. Gambiza was eventually released from Hwahwa Prison. Chibanda initially slapped them with 12 months in prison each before suspending seven months for five years on condition of good behaviour.
Prosecuting, Mirirai Shumba told the court that on an unknown date, but during the month of April this year and at the Gweru Magistrates’ Court, Ndebele received $200 from Murakwani to facilitate the release of Gambiza.
Ndebele connived with Phiri and the two received the bribe money which they later shared in a bid to unprocedurally grant the suspect bail.
The matter came to light after the magistrate, Judith Taruvinga, who had initially remanded Gambiza, heard that Phiri was using her name to solicit for the enticement. Taruvinga called Phiri and questioned him in the presence of other colleagues and that is when he apologised and indicated that he had received his share of $100.
