adminOn 2 March, Mike Munga was on duty in plain clothes when he observed a customer eating a banana inside TM Hyper. He approached the customer to tell him that what he was doing was not permitted.
Munga escorted the customer outside the supermarket so that he could show him where he had bought the banana. The fruit vendor confirmed that the customer had indeed bought the banana from him.
On 12 March, Constable Samuel Chiwara approached Munga and told him that he was wanted for a case of insulting a customer on 2 March and he took him to Bulawayo Central Police Station.
Chiwara took down his particulars and advised him to pay a $20 fine. Munga indicated that he did not have money and said he wanted to go and borrow from his superiors and Chiwara let him go.
Munga, who doubted committing a crime, told his superiors who went to Bulawayo police provincial headquarters at Ross Camp where they made a report. On 16 March a trap was set up and Munga invited Chiwara to come and collect the money.
Chiwara went to TM Hyper where he met Munga and he accepted the money but did not give Munga a receipt.
He was immediately arrested and the trap money recovered.
Chiwara (28), of New Quarters, Ross Camp, was not formally charged with criminal abuse of office when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Shepherd Mjanja.
He was granted $120 bail and will next appear in court on 27 March.
Mr Malvern Nzombe appeared for the State and Mr Lozithelo Mpofu defended Chiwara.
Online Reporter