adminDarikai Chirende (40), Noel Mwanyenya (30), Tafadzwa Tigere (33), all of Chikato Police Station, Masvingo and Frank Mvenge (30), of 2619 Rufaro Street, Mucheke pleaded not guilty when they appeared before Masvingo magistrate, Ms Dorothy Mwanyisa last Thursday, but were convicted because of overwhelming evidence.
However, Mvenge was acquitted due to lack of evidence that he had also received the money.
The trio was initially sentenced to nine months imprisonment, but the sentence was wholly suspended on condition that they perform community service.
Chirende was ordered to do his community service at Roger’s Training Centre while Mwanyenya and Tigere would be at Zimcare Trust and Runyararo Primary School respectively.
In their defence the quartet, which was represented by Mr Charles Ndlovu said they did not extort money from the complainant, but that they had borrowed money from him since they were friends.
It is the State case as represented by Ms Moreblessing Rusere that on 8 June at about 2am the four policemen were patrolling when they came across Mr Johnson Mazvidzo (33), of 1616 Shumba Street, Mucheke A and his colleague, Mr Ishmael Mutambo.
The court heard that the two were found at the gate of Mr Mazvidzo’s place of residence while offloading 5 x20 litres of diesel from a pirate taxi that they had hired from Exo Garage in Masvingo and was being driven by Mr Ropafadzo Chigogo.
The court further heard that Tigere told Mr Mazvidzo that he was under arrest for illegally dealing in petroleum products without an operating licence.
The court heard that Tigere instructed Mr Mazvidzo and his colleague to accompany them together with their fuel to Chikato Police Station where on arrival Mr Mazvidzo offered the quartet $10 to buy his freedom, but the policemen refused citing that it was too little since they were four.
Mr Mazvidzo then gave him $20 so that he could give his partners in crime, but he again refused saying the money was still little.He later borrowed an extra $20 from Mr Chigodo, the court heard.
Tigere then accepted the money and he let the duo free with their diesel leaving the policemen to share the money.
The court heard that at about 8am the following day, Mr Mazvidzo told his brother Kudakwashe that he was not happy with the money that he had given the police as bribery. He complained that it was too much for him.
The court heard that the brother proceeded to Chirende’s place where he demanded his younger brother’s money back.
Chirende gave him $15 and he wrote a letter in which he indicated that he would pay the balance on 9 June. He also surrendered his police identity card and DVD player as surety that he would pay the balance of $25.
After being handed the money, Kudakwashe went and reported the matter to police. He left the money as exhibit leading to the quartet’s arrest.
Total value extorted is $40, but only $15 was recovered.
Online Reporter