Bulawayo High Court official jailed over US$1 974 bribe

A 64-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo High Court assessor has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment for demanding a US$1 974 bribe from a member of the public after promising to assist him in uploading his case onto the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) system.

Ceaser Nkomo committed the offence together with an accomplice, Shingirai Mpungu (30), who is yet to be arrested. Nkomo who pleaded not guilty was however convicted by Bulawayo regional magistrate, Ms Sibonginkosi Maphosa due to overwhelming evidence.

He was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment but Ms Maphosa suspended two years of the sentence on condition of good behaviour. A further one year was suspended on condition that Nkomo pays restitution to the complainant by June 30 this year. Nkomo will therefore serve an effective five years in prison.

Ms Maphosa said investigations proved that Nkomo received the bribe money through EcoCash.
She said that each time the complainant contacted Nkomo, he would tell him that he was at the Gweru Circuit Court with a judge, thereby deliberately misleading the complainant, who had paid money to be assisted.

Asking the court to impose stiffer sentence, prosecutor Mr Owen Mugari said Nkomo as a member of the JSC had put the name of the commission into disrepute.
“His actions have soiled the reputation of the JSC as bribery is a serious offence. A custodial sentence is the only appropriate punishment for this crime, which has become a cancer threatening the fabric of society,” said Mugari.

He said Nkomo was a repeat offender as he was convicted of theft in 2016.

The State case was that in 2021, the complainant filed a civil case at the Bulawayo High Court under HC1424/21. He later discovered that his matter was no longer in the court system.

“In November 2024, the complainant went to the Bulawayo High Court to enquire how his civil case could be restored to the system and that is how he met Nkomo, who promised to assist him,” said Mr Mugari.

Nkomo later advised the complainant through a phone call that a US$20 search fee was required. He then introduced the complainant to Mpungu saying he was the Registrar at the Bulawayo High Court and said they were handling his issue together.

The court heard that on different occasions, Nkomo demanded cash from the complainant through phone calls and messages so he could assist to have the case reinstated.

On different occasions, the complainant sent money through EcoCash and at one time made direct payment. The total amount lost was US$1 974.

The complainant later learnt that Mpungu was not employed at the High Court and reported the case to the police, leading to Nkomo’s arrest.