Cop up for extortion

Nokusa Masuku Court Reporter
A BULAWAYO police officer has been arrested for allegedly demanding a $500 bribe from a suspect.

Chrispen Mutambanashe, 29, stationed at Pumula Police Station, allegedly demanded the money from Maggie Mpofu, to “facilitate the dropping of fraud charges against her.”

Mpofu allegedly paid $200 and the police officer continuously pestered her for the balance until she paid an additional $50.

Mutambanashe, a court heard, threatened to resume investigations into the case, prompting Mpofu to report him to the police headquarters in Bulawayo.

A trap was set up for Mutambanashe, where he was supposed to receive $200, leading to his arrest.

Mutambanashe appeared before Provincial magistrate Willard Maphios Moyo facing two charges of extortion and criminal abuse of duty as a police officer.

He was not asked to plead and was remanded out of custody to March 26 on $100 bail.

Magistrate Moyo ordered Mutambanashe to reside at his home in Magwegwe until the matter was finalised.

He was told not to interfere with state witnesses.

Prosecuting Ruvimbo Chanduru told the court that on Saturday last week, Mutambanashe arrested Mpofu after she defrauded Nikita Mhlanga of $750.

“Mutambanashe took Mpofu to Pumula police station where he ordered her to pay back Mhlanga her $750. Mpofu complied and Mutambanashe ordered Mhlanga to leave. He then asked Mpofu to reveal the name of a person that he alleged had helped her to defraud Mhlanga, threatening to lock her up if she did not comply,” said Chanduru.

She said Mpofu refused to supply the information.

“Mutambanashe demanded a $500 bribe to stop investigations that he said would expose the alleged accomplice. Mpofu fearing being locked up gave Mutambanashe $200,” said Chanduru.

She said he further demanded $50 which he said was for fuel which he had used to look for her before she got arrested.

On Monday, the court heard, Mutambanashe phoned Mpofu demanding the remaining money and that is when Mpofu reported him to the police.

The court heard that two plain clothes police officers accompanied Mpofu to Pumula police station after recording the serial numbers of the two $100 notes which Mpofu gave Mutambanashe.

Mutambanashe was immediately arrested after receiving the money.

Of the $450 given to him, only $200 was recovered.