2 deny kidnapping cop

appeared in court.
Taurai Jaurenji (31) and Chelton Bhango (24) both from Kwekwe pleaded not guilty to kidnapping charges when they appeared before Gweru magistrate, Ms Jeslene Mashiri, who remanded them in custody to next month. In their defence through their lawyer Mr Brian Dube the pair said they are to file a police report accusing the policeman of soliciting for a US$10 bribe.

“The police officer was not kidnapped but he forced himself into the commuter omnibus while soliciting for US$10 and we need time to file a police report,” Mr Dube said
Prosecutor Mr Andrew Marimo alleged that on September 9 the pair was employed at Magoronga Commuters and were parked at AMTEC service station loading passengers. The court was told Constable Edmond Makoni came and produced his police identity card to the duo before ordering Jaurenji to drive to Gweru Central Police Station traffic station.

Mr Marimo said Bhango snatched Constable Makoni’s police ID and drove with him to Kwekwe.
When the commuter omnibus reached Kwekwe, the pair was allegedly ordered to drive to Kwekwe Central Police Station but Jaurenji did not comply and he drove to a bus stop just after Kwekwe town centre.

The pair first dropped passengers before driving to the police station, the court heard.
Const Makoni filed a report and it was established that he was indeed a traffic policeman and the kombi crew was arrested.