Beitbridge Court packed as 18 cops, soldiers apply for bail
Ellen Mlambo
Two Nations Reporter
BEITBRIDGE – Courtroom A at Beitbridge Magistrates Court is packed this afternoon as 18 employees from various security departments including Police, Airforce, Zimbabwe National Army arrested on Saturday for allegedly taking bribes at a roadblock near the border town apply for bail.
Most of the accused are accompanied by relatives who have come to listen to the case.
The accused appeared in court for bail application and the ruling will be made tomorrow.
Initially 27 officers were arrested but it has been realised that the other nine were not near the scene when the crime was busted by the Police Anti Corruption Unit.
The accused who allegedly committed the crime while on an operation ironically codenamed No to cross border crimes are being charged with criminal abuse of duty as public officers as defined in section 174 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform (Act Chapter 9:23).
They are being represented by Muchihwande Forbes Sithole of Chauke and Associates and are appearing before Resident Magistrate Takudzwa Gwazemba.
Some of the accused persons include Juliet Raura (32) of ZRP Support Unit Hotel Troop Chikurubi, Trevor Chidemo (29) of ZRP Support Unit November Troop, Matseketsa Zvipozvashe (45) of ZRP Support unit Chikurubi, Berita Sokalikamba (37) ZRP Support Unit Chikurubi, ,Liberty Rutsate (32) the Environmental Health Officer at Beitbridge hospital, Gurumani Robert Paul (36) of Josiah Tungamirai Airforce base, Moreblessing Nyanhongo (30) ZNA Provost Coy, Patrick Chimbadzo (34)ZRP CID Rusape ,Kudzai Muziki (32) ZRP Mat North PHQ, Nyaku Tichareva of ZRP Beitbridge Traffic,Tambudzai Parirehwa (45) of ZRP CID Rusape,Priscila Gosa (31) of ZRP Beitbridge Traffic, Bothwell Tsinda of ZRP Victoria Falls, Rodrick Kudemba (31) of Support Unit Chikurubi Rural, Givemore Charuma (30) of ZRP Support Unit Changadzi, Tafara Mandishona (36) of ZPCS Bindura Prison and Kevin Moyo (36) of ZRP Victoria Falls, Rodeck Kudemba of Support Unit Chikurubi rural,Givemore Charuma of Birchnough growth point ,Tafara Mandishona of Bindura and Kevin Moyo of Phumula south in Bulawayo.
Allegations are that on Saturday, at Chicago roadblock site in Beitbridge the accused who are members drawn from several Government departments and currently deployed at Chicago roadblock site on ‘Operation No to Cross Border Crimes’ stopped Sable Class bus with a trailer registration number HY47XF GP which was driven by Boas Mutyanda which was passing through the roadblock site.
There were detectives from the Police Anti-Corruption Unit in the bus who were on a deployment to execute a trap at the site.
The accused persons demanded R2 000 from the informant. The informant handed over the trap money R2 000 to the first accused Shepherd Mugomeza which was in R200 denominations with the serial numbers.
Mugomeza was arrested and some of the accused persons from the Central Intelligence Organization, Criminal Investigations Department, Police Internal Security Intelligence, Support Unit PISI, PGHQ Press, and Air Force of Zimbabwe who were at the roadblock ran away into the bush after they saw Mugomeza being arrested.
Follow-ups on all accused persons who ran away were made and they were arrested at nearby bushes. After their arrest, they failed to give a reasonable excuse on why they ran away.
A search was conducted and the trap money was recovered from Mugomeza’s right jacket pocket.
At the scene five-liter container was recovered containing R2 000 which was taken as an exhibit.
The value of the money recovered is R4 000.
District Public Prosecutor Tinayeishe Matenga and public prosecutor Ronald Mugwagwa prosecuted.https://twonations.co.zw/
