Bogus policeman in court for extortion

Prosper Dembedza
Court Correspondent
A 38-year-old man who had been pretending to be a police officer and wearing police uniform to allegedly extort money from motorists on highways leading into Harare yesterday appeared in court on extortion charges.

Takawira Bomba appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Dennis Mangosi, and as the State opposed bail he was remanded in custody to today for bail application.

The court heard that on August 18, a driver of a Honda Fit coming into Harare along Bulawayo Road from Norton with four passengers on board stopped at the Kuwadzana roundabout to drop off one passenger, and was blocked by a white Toyota Runx which had Bomba and his accomplices, including Leon Mukunga and two others who are still at large.

Mukunga is already on remand in this matter.

Bomba and his accomplices, who were wearing police uniforms, disembarked from their vehicle and told the Honda Fit driver that he was under arrest for pirating.

Bomba then ordered the driver into the back seat with his accomplices, as he took control of the vehicle.

The accused persons allegedly told the Honda Fit driver that they were taking him to Harare Central Police Station, but when they reached N Richards Shopping Centre near Westlea, Bomba and his accomplices demanded US$80 as an admission of guilt fine.

The Honda Fit driver gave them US$60, saying it was the only money he had, but Bomba and his accomplices insisted that they needed the US$20 balance.

After recognising that the driver was not paying the balance, the gang allegedly removed number plates of the Honda Fit and drove it around Harare saying they wanted to raise the balance through arresting other traffic offenders.

Two of the accused persons were following with their Toyota Runx.

It is alleged that when they arrived in Mbare near Mashwede Service Station in Matapi, the Honda Fit driver took advantage of the congestion and put on the handbrake of his car, switched off the engine and started crying out for help from other motorists.

Bomba and his two accomplices jumped out and ran off, but with the help of other alert citizens, the Honda Fit driver grabbed Mukunga.

On Monday, CID Homicide searched an Epworth house, resulting in the recovery of police uniforms and a service identity card.