adminThupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
TWO police officers from Beitbridge have appeared in court for allegedly stealing 80 litres of petrol from their employer’s fuel tanks. Carlington Muneri, 30, and Moses Sibanda, 28, pleaded not guilty to a charge of criminal abuse of office when they appeared before Beitbridge resident magistrate Gloria Takundwa on Wednesday.
They were both remanded to May 20 for trial on $100 bail each.
Prosecuting, Jabulani Mberesi told the court that on March 28 at around 11PM, Constable Arnold Jimu was on guard at the ZRP fuel tanks in Beitbridge when Muneri and Sibanda arrived in a Mazda pickup truck.
Muneri went into the fence surrounding the fuel tanks and left four empty 20 litre containers under a tree.
He then allegedly drove off with his colleague.
The court heard that Constable Jimu suspected that the two intended to steal fuel from the police and he informed one Assistant Inspector Banda who is in charge of police guard points.
He was then advised to monitor the situation.
Mberesi said on the following day, when Constable Jimu knocked off Assistant Inspector Banda went to the scene and realised that the containers had been filled with petrol when the police officer who had been guarding the tanks had gone home.
Assistant Inspector Banda waited at the scene and Muneri and Sibanda later turned up to collect the containers.
He then quizzed them about the containers and Muneri admitted to stealing the petrol as he wanted to sell it to get money to solve his problems. He also said Sibanda was only providing transport.
The two were subsequently arrested and the fuel valued at $116 was recovered.
Online Reporter