adminLethokuhle Moyo Court Reporter
SIX Bulawayo police officers who allegedly assaulted a former policeman after he prevented them from arresting a tout at Egodini terminus appeared in court yesterday facing assault charges.
The six are alleged to have kicked Big Dube, 48, the ex-cop, on his left knee and then twisted his neck before hitting him on the forehead with handcuffs on August 5.
Dube retired from the police force when he was an Assistant Inspector and is now a businessman who owns a number of commuter omnibuses.
His attackers accused him of having tried to stop them from arresting a tout who was loading passengers illegally at Basch Street bus terminus, popularly known as “Egodini”.
Benjamin Marufu, 28, Sillivenus Muvazhi, 33, Domininco Ingwani, 28, Eniwell Tafa, 30, Godknows Hove, 23, and Isheunesu Mabhiza, 32, were remanded out of custody to October 1 by Bulawayo magistrate Tawanda Muchemwa.
The State led by Ray Makaza said they needed more time to prepare for the case.
Dube recently appeared before Magistrate Sibongile Msipa facing charges of obstructing public officials’ after he allegedly tried to block the six police officers from arresting a tout.
He complained that the six police officers assaulted him and he had to seek medical treatment.
During that hearing, magistrate Msipa said the police officers were supposed to be witnesses in the matter, but were evading court and directed that investigations be carried out, leading to their court appearance yesterday.
Dube’s lawyer Sifisosethu Nkomo said the officers took him to Central Police Station where they teamed up with other policemen and assaulted him.
“The four police officers took my client to the police station and along with Constable Hove and Constable Mabhiza assaulted him without any compelling circumstances or evidence,” he said.
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