Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
CHIEF magistrate Vongai Guwuriro yesterday acquitted private investigator and former cop Tafadzwa Chidawa, popularly known as Detective Kedha, in a US$20 000 theft case.
Chidawa and his accomplices Paradza Passmore Matubu, Francis Takura and Perseverance Chisango were all found not guilty after a full trial.
In her judgement, magistrate Guwuriro said the complainant, Melody Matanhire’s testimony was marred with inconsistencies that made it hard for any reasonable person to believe that the incident occurred.
She is the key witness, who claimed she was there when the money was allegedly stolen.
“The existence of Chidawa’s identity card from the police was also brought to task during trial since he said he had surrendered his identity card upon resignation, since Matanhire claimed that he used it to commit crimes.
“Chidawa however, did not bring any proof from Highlands police station to confirm his claim that he had surrendered to the police after he resigned from work.
“Without that proof it is difficult for the court to determine what had happened to the police ID since it appeared that he had lied that he surrendered it to the police.”
The State claimed that Matanhire was in an adulterous relationship with Malvern Mutanda who is at large, and was informed by Malvern that he was in possession of about US$100000 soiled money, which needed some cleaning.
Malvern represented that the cleaning process would require at least US$20000 clean bills that would be mixed with soiled money and some chemicals.
It was claimed that any person who would have supplied the US$20000 would earn some interest or commission upon the success of the process.
Acting on the misrepresentation, it was alleged that on August 27 2020, Matanhire advised Malvern that she had managed to secure the US$20000.
She then made arrangements with Malvern to proceed to Blue Ridge Lodge where they were going to clean Malvern’s money.
Melody then took US$20000 from her matrimonial home in Glen Lorne, Harare.
