Baloyi speaks on corruption case

Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Reporter
JAiLED police Assistant Commissioner Gidion Baloyi says he is being persecuted for unearthing corruption by senior officers. Baloyi, who was a staff officer at the Police General Headquarters in Harare, was last week imprisoned for nine months for putting the name of the police into disrepute after he facilitated the release of a fraud suspect.

Harare magistrate Mr Elijah Makomo found Baloyi guilty of trying to protect Nevermind Kufakunesu accused of swindling a local businessman Mr Batsirayi Mupindu of chickens worth US$21 000.

Kufakunesu is related to a female police inspector who heads Chivhu Traffic Section.
In an application for bail appeal filed at the High Court on Thursday by his lawyers Mr Misheck Hogwe of Hogwe, Dzimirai and Partners, Baloyi said the court must allow him to substantiate his claims.

Applicant begs leave to state at this stage that he will, at the appropriate time, make an application to this Honourable Court for leave to adduce further evidence on appeal to demonstrate that he is a victim of persecution for his role in unearthing corrupt practices by some more senior members of the police force, reads the bail statement.

The bail hearing has been set down for Monday at the High Court.
After Baloyi’s sentence, Mr Hogwe filed a notice of appeal against the magistrate’s decision to convict and sentence Baloyi.

While the appeal was pending at the High Court, Mr Hogwe unsuccessfully applied for bail pending appeal before Mr Makomo on Wednesday.

It was dismissed. Mr Hogwe then filed the High Court application.