Cop nabbed over pirate taxi bribe

Nyaradzo Bakari, Chronicle Reporter
A POLICE officer from Bulawayo has been arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe from a pirate taxi operator.

Lice Courage (29) from Nkulumane suburb appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Lungile Ncube facing a charge of criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.

He pleaded not guilty and Mr Ncube remanded him out of custody to August 30 for trial.

The court heard that Courage has since been suspended from the force for the criminal act.

Prosecuting, Mrs Memory Ndlovu said the accused accepted a bribe from Ms Sarudzai Khabo, a Honda fit owner.

“On July 15, a Honda fit driver was arrested at a traffic check point for having no operator’s licence, a fire extinguisher and failing to comply with police instructions. The car was impounded to ZRP Nkulumane traffic where the driver was ordered to pay a $50 fine,” said Mrs Ndlovu.

“The driver called the owner of the car, Ms Khabo, who called Constable Courage, telling him she had $30. Courage instructed Ms Khabo to come to the station where she gave him the $30 but was told to drive away without a receipt.”

The court heard that the officer in charge, Inspector Linos Dlamini, conducted a routine check and discovered that the Honda fit had been released without paying a fine.

The vehicle had also not been cleared in the register book. Investigations led to Courage’s arrest. The police officer was represented by Mr Reliance Ndou of Mugiya and Macharaga Law Chambers. — @NyarieBakie