Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
A MAN who was masquerading as a police officer appeared in court yesterday accused of impersonation, kidnapping and illegal possession of a firearm.
Justice Nyevhe was not asked for plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Ruth Moyo.
The first informant is Ezra Masame, of Old Mabvuku.
The court heard that on November 11 last year, Masame was approached by Nyevhe, who was in company of three others, at Red Bull shopping Centre in Old Mabuku, Harare.
Nyevhe allegedly introduced himself as an Assistant Inspector in the Zimbabwe Republic Police and was looking for one Naboth Shorisho Chimunhu, who at the time was attending to Masame’s vehicle.
He was, however, not aware of Shorisho’s whereabouts and Nyevhe left.
In the second count, it is alleged that on the same date, Nyevhe went to Raymond Chimunhu’s house in Mabvuku in the company of two unknown males.
Nyevhe went on to introduce himself and his colleagues as detectives who were looking for Chimunhu’s father who was wanted in connection with a theft case.
When Chimunhu came out of the house, he was holding a pair of scissors and Nyevhe began assaulting him.
His accomplices were allegedly referring to him as their boss.
Nyevhe allegedly handcuffed Chimunhu and bundled him into their vehicle without his consent and drove to Damafalls where his father Naboth Chimhunu stays.
They continued assaulting him on their way to Damafalls.
After they failed to locate Naboth in Damafalls, they took Chimunhu’s cellphone and opened it.
It is at this stage that they realised that there was communication between Chimunhu and Ezra Masame.
Nyevhe then requested Chimunhu to accompany them to Masame’s home as they claimed he had committed a serious offence.
When they arrived, they assaulted Masame for defeating the course of justice by hiding Naboth Chimunhu.
They bundled Masame into their vehicle and drove to Chimunhu’s home where they dropped him off around midnight and removed the handcuffs using a wire.
They dumped Masame along the way at 1am.
Masame then reported the matter at ZRP Mabvuku and was referred to the hospital where he was treated.
In another count, Nyevhe called Inspector Nyamadzawo of Harare Central Investigations Department and introduced himself as a senior Officer, a Chief Superintendent attached to the Legal services at the Police General Headquarters. Nyevhe was requesting him to accept a deposit fine for his relative arrested for touting in the Harare Central CBD.
This was contrary to standing orders that stated that all touts would be referred to court.
As a result of the strange request from a senior officer, Nyamadzawo made inquiries at PGHQ Legal services where he was told that there was no Chief Superintendent Nyevhe.
An enquiry was then instituted through the mobile service provider and it was established that the number that had called the police officer was registered under Nyevhe, leading to his arrest.
He was found in possession of a firearm with an expired license and four 7mm live rounds.
