18 ‘bribe taking cops’ denied bail
ELLEN MLAMBO
TWO NATIONS EDITOR
BEITBRIDGE – Eighteen ZRP members, Soldiers, Central Intelligence members and some civil servants arrested at a roadblock in Beitbridge are going to spend their fourth night behind bars today after Beitbridge Resident Magistrate Takudzwa Gwazemba denied them bail this morning.
They were remanded in custody to March 29, 2022.
Gwazemba agreed with State Prosecutor Tinayeishe Matenga whou argued that the accused are likely to interfere with Police investigations. The Magistrate also noted that some of the accused ran away from the roadblock into the bushes when the arrests were being made and this showed that they may abscond.
The security officers were arrested after they allegedly received R2 000 bribe from a Sable Class Bus at around 6am on Saturday. They were trapped by Police from the Anti-Corruption Unit who were inside the bus who immediately pounced on them after taking the marked money.
This is the second time in a few months that a group of cops numbering more than 17 were arrested at a roadblock in Beitbridge for demanding and taking bribe.
The defence lawyer Muchihwande Forbes Sithole of Chauke and Associates had suggested bail of RTGS$5 000 considering that the accused are civil servants who are poorly remunerated.
