admin
Court Reporter
A 32-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo man has appeared in court for allegedly impersonating a policeman and soliciting for a bribe from a motorist.
Tom Chirenje of 163 Emakhandeni was not asked to plead to one count of impersonation and another of fraud when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Takundwa Witness Mtetwa yesterday.
His lawyer Mr Tungamirai Nyengera, of Mcijo, Dube and Partners applied for bail, saying his client was a suitable candidate for bail.
Chirenje employed by the Bulawayo City Council maintenance section, was remanded to 9 September on $100 bail.
The complainant in the matter is Mr Oscar Lawrence Mpofu of Nkulumane 5.
The State would seek to prove that sometime in April this year, Mr Mpofu parked his vehicle between Fort Street and Herbert Chitepo Street along 11th Avenue.
Chirenje, who was in the company of two accomplices who are still at large, approached him and told him that he was under arrest for illegal parking.
The court was told that the three allegedly jumped into Mr Mpofu’s vehicle and ordered him to drive to Drill Hall to pay an admission of guilt fine.
While on the way, Chirenje and his alleged accomplices allegedly demanded that he bribes them so that they would not take him to Drill Hall.
The court was told that Mr Mpofu produced 600 rand cash, but the three allegedly demanded more.
It is alleged that the trio ordered him to drive to his house to look for more money and Mr Mpofu gave them $300.
The court was told that after collecting the money from Mr Mpofu, Chirenje and his alleged accomplices allegedly disembarked from the vehicle at the Drill Hall main gate and pretended to go inside after telling him to drive off and return the following day to collect a receipt.
Mr Mpofu went to Drill Hall the next day but could not locate the three. The court was told that on 17 August, Mr Mpofu parked his vehicle at the same place between Fort Street and Herbert Chitepo Street and Chirenje allegedly approached him in the same modus operandi.
It is alleged that he ordered him to drive to Bulawayo Central Police Station. Mr Mpofu, who had positively identified Chirenje, alerted the police leading to his arrest.
The total amount defrauded is 600 rand and $300 and nothing was recovered. Mr Kudakwashe Jaravaza is appearing for the State.
Online Reporter