adminAdelaide Moyo, Chronicle Reporter
A Lupane police officer who was last week fined $300 for driving without a licence, was yesterday slapped with a further $300 fine for negligent driving.
Constable Abraham Chokera was driving a vehicle belonging to a workmate, Const Ernest Mahoko, when the vehicle veered off the road and hit a pedestrian.
The accident occurred on May 7 this year in Lupane.
Lupane resident magistrate Ndumo Masuku convicted Const Chokera on his own plea of guilty.
In passing sentence the magistrate said he considered that Const Chokera had already been punished at work since he had been suspended.
“You’ve already been punished as you appeared before a disciplinary hearing at your workplace resulting in your suspension.
“However in aggravation you are a police officer and you are supposed to enforce the law. I will give you the option to pay a fine of $300 or in default you spend six months in prison,” said the magistrate.
Prosecuting, Sanders Sibanda told the court that the car was speeding.
“On May 7, Const Chokera was given car keys by Const Mahoko to drive the vehicle from the police camp to Lupane centre.
“Const Mahoko joined him later in the day and the two drove to Lupane Beer Garden where they picked their girlfriends Charity Sibanda and Brenda Ndlovu,” said Sibanda.
He said the two cops, who both do not have drivers’ licences proceeded to Downtown Shopping Centre but when they approached a curve at the 1km peg along the Lupane-Nkayi Road, the car veered off the road to the right and hit a pedestrian Mgcini Ndlovu.
Ndlovu sustained bruises on the face and a pelvic bone while the police officers and their girlfriends suffered varying minor injuries. Brenda Ndlovu dislocated her right hip.
The prosecutor said the car stopped after hitting a tree.
Prosecutors said the police officer was driving at an excessive speed and the crash was a result of failure to stop the car when an accident seemed imminent.
Tonderai Mukuku of Mazorodze, Mukuku and Partners represented Const Chokera.
Online Reporter