A BULAWAYO-BASED commuter omnibus driver, Mvusi Mguni, was yesterday ordered to perform 105 hours of community service for resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer after he was found touting for customers at Egodini Bus terminus in the city.
BY SILAS NKALA
Mguni (38) was initially sentenced to a six-month jail term by magistrate Sithembiso Ncube, but three months of the sentence were later suspended on condition of good behaviour, while the remainder was commuted to 105 hours of community service at Njube Police Station.
In passing sentence, the magistrate said the State had managed to prove a prima facie case against Mguni despite his plea of not guilty.
“The accused intentionally assaulted the complainant and resisted arrest by refusing to be handcuffed and assaulting him,” Ncube ruled.
“Such conduct by accused cannot be tolerated. Assaulting a police officer on duty is a clear disregard of the law.
It is the court’s duty to show disdain at such conduct to protect the peace and tranquillity in our city.”
The court was told that on May 17, traffic police officer Shylock Chitondo (35) from Bulawayo Central Police Station was on patrol with his workmates at Egodini Bus Terminus, where they saw Mguni touting for customers.
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Chitondo and his workmates approached him before identifying themselves as police officers and informing him that he was under arrest for touting. Mguni, however, resisted arrest and called on his alleged accomplice, who is still at large, and jointly assaulted Chitondo all over the body. Mguni then jumped into his bus and drove off, leaving Chitando lying on the ground.
Police later mounted a manhunt and arrested Mguni.