Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka
Court Correspondent
Three Zimbabwean police officers accused of demanding US$40 bribe from a motorist at an illegal roadblock along Harare Street, were on Monday granted bail by Magistrate Jesse Kufa.
Tendai Arimoni, Webster Mabhugu and Taurai Masere, who were facing charges of criminal abuse of office, were released on US$100 bail each following their court appearance.
The trio had initially been remanded in custody after their first court hearing on Friday last week.
The State alleges that on December 31, 2025, the three officers set up an unsanctioned roadblock along Harare Street, targeting vehicles driving against a one-way street.
While conducting this unauthorised operation, their activities were being monitored by the Harare Anti-Corruption Unit.
According to the prosecution, the officers stopped a white Mercedes Benz, registration number AFX 9209, driven by Brian Mpofu, who was accompanied by his friend, Obey Taruvinga.
The officers allegedly informed Mpofu that he was under arrest for driving against a one-way street and ordered him to drive in the direction of Harare Central Police Station.
Along the way, the first accused, Arimoni, allegedly demanded US$150 as a fine but then offered to accept a US$40 bribe to let him go.
The State claims Mpofu, under pressure, borrowed US$35 from his companion and added US$5 of his own to meet the bribe demand. The money was reportedly handed to Arimoni, after which Mpofu was released.
Without the knowledge of the officers, members of the Harare Province Anti-Corruption Unit had been observing their activities from a distance.
After Mpofu was released, the anti-corruption officers intercepted him, recorded his statement and launched an investigation.
The accused officers fled the scene but were later tracked down and arrested.
