adminMunyaradzi Musiiwa Midlands Correspondent
A POLICE officer from Zvishavane has been arrested after he allegedly connived with a Zvishavane prosecutor and a magistrate to demand a $250 bribe from a kidnap suspect. It is alleged that the police officer, Fanuel Matigwe, was investigating a case where Wanton Shoko allegedly kidnapped a police officer in Zvishavane after he was arrested for committing a traffic offence.
Shoko was approached by a Constable Zinarei in Zvishavane central business district and was arrested for committing a traffic offence.
Const Zinarei is alleged to have got into Shoko’s vehicle after he attempted to resist arrest.
Shoko allegedly sped off while Const Zinarei was still in his vehicle and the matter was reported to police leading to his arrest.
A police source last Thursday said Shoko was accompanied by Matigwe to court where the police officer allegedly demanded $250 bribe after liaising with the prosecutor (whose name was not given) and a magistrate so that the accused would not be given a custodial sentence.
Shoko’s relatives allegedly gave Matigwe $250.
It is alleged that the magistrate, who heard the matter, then referred Shoko to the community service officer for assessment.
“It was when Shoko went for the assessment that his relatives started demanding the money back, arguing that Shoko’s case was supposed to be dismissed since he had paid $250,” said the source.
The source said when Shoko’s relatives demanded the money back, the magistrate sentenced him to nine months in prison after he was found him guilty of kidnapping a police officer on duty.
The source said Shoko’s relatives reported the matter to the police and Matigwe was immediately arrested.
He allegedly implicated the magistrate and the prosecutor.
Matigwe is said to be in police custody assisting police with investigations.
A lawyer representing Matigwe, Mr Hebert Tafa of Tafa and Partners Legal Practitioners, confirmed that he was representing the police officer who is facing charges of demanding a bribe from a kidnap suspect.
“I am representing Matigwe, a police officer who is facing charges of demanding a bribe from a kidnap suspect. Matigwe is in police custody assisting with investigations. He was arrested on Thursday for the alleged offence.
“However, I am not at liberty to disclose some of the people who are being implicated in the same case because they have not been formally charged by the police,” he said.
Online Reporter