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Zvikomborero Parafini
THE State has dropped charges against the Officer-in-Charge CID Stores and Business, Stanley Musekiwa, who was accused of stealing US$45 000 kept in a stove being used as an exhibit.
The State had said Musekiwa and his accomplices, Takaidza Mugwisi and Masimba Stanley Gwasunda, hid the money in the stove which had been confiscated in a previous unlawful entry case.
Prosecutor Anesu Chirenje told the court that they were no longer proceeding with the matter due to lack of evidence.
The State had alleged that Mugwisi recovered US$40 500 from Carlington Gengezha, who had committed unlawful entry and theft in Belvedere.
The cash and US$5 000, which had been recovered in different cases, was taken into possession by Musekiwa as the Officer-in-Charge, and he handed it to Gwasunda, the Exhibit Officer.
The State had said Musekiwa and Gwasunda, who were supposed to place the money in a safe at CID Homicide Harare for safe keeping after being instructed by Deputy Director Crime CID Zimbabwe, instead, stashed the cash into a four plate stove oven which was in the CID Stores and Business, Harare.
It was alleged that on August 6, Mugwisi was deployed on night guard duties securing CID offices, which includes the exhibit room.
The State alleged that on the same day at around 1am, the trio allegedly took advantage of the darkness, after an electrical fault at Harare Central Police Station, and went to the office where the money was being kept.
They were accused of staging a break in by cutting the padlocks using a bolt cutter and stealing the money from the stove.
They were then accused of setting the office on fire.
Online Reporter