Copaï¿½ï¿½s gun thief arrested

Nhlalwenhle Ncube
A MAN who went around threatening people with a pistol he stole from a senior police officer in Zvishavane has been arrested.

Rodrick Chigede (32) was arrested after he became over-excited about the gun and went around threateningA� to shoot anyone who refused to give in to his orders to buy beer.

Chigede was charged with three counts namely robbery, impersonating a police officer and unlawful possession of a firearm.

He appeared before magistrate Shepherd Mjanja and pleaded guilty to all the charges.

The court heard that on 5 June at around 1.30am, the complainant Assistant Inspector Allan Kanhema was in possession of a CZ service pistol with nine rounds of ammunition.

He hired all night services of a thigh vendor Blessing Moyo and they proceeded to the womana��s home in Mandava suburb.

Upon arrival at her place, Kanhema placed the pistol under a pillow before having a pleasurable moment with the woman.

After a�?killinga�? the senior cop with a nice time, Moyo rushed to her neighbour, Chigede to inform him about the pistol.

Chigede tied Asst Insp Kanhemaa��s hands with a rope before waking him up.

They then hired a taxi intending to go to the police station, but along the way Chigede ran away with the pistol.

Asst Insp Kanhema, realising that he was in trouble, rushed to report the matter.

The report resulted in the copa��s arrest for failure to secure a service fire-arm.

A week later, the police got a tip-off about Chigede resulting in his arrest as well.

He was charged with robbery of a pistol which was valued at $470, impersonating a police officer as he reportedly identified himself as a member of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and unlawful possession of a pistol with nine rounds of ammunition without a certificate.

Chigede, for the robbery charge was slapped with 24 months imprisonment of which four months were suspended on condition of good behaviour.

For impersonating a police officer he was sentenced to nine months imprisonment. For unlawful possession of a pistol he was fined $200 (or three months in prison).