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Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
Four detectives who were allegedly in the habit of extorting cash from cross- border traders at Machipisa bus terminus in Harare have been arrested. This was soon after they had allegedly received US$100 from a transporter hired by a cross-border trader.
Sergeants Gerald Hunde (37), Sheilla Mhike (36) and Constables Silas Bvundura (28) and Derrent Mashindi (25) are stationed at the CID Border Control Unit in Harare.
It is alleged the quartet targeted traders accusing them of evading paying duty at the border for their wares.
Hunde, Mhike, Bvundura and Mashindi appeared before Mr Milton Serima on Friday charged with extortion. They were remanded to January 30.
Prosecutor Miss Sharon Mashavira alleges that on December 30 last year, the ZRP Traffic Training School received information that the four police detectives were extorting money from traders at Machipisa bus terminus.
A team of police officers was dispatched to Machipisa to investigate the matter.
On arrival they saw the suspects who were driving in a Toyota Noah.
It is alleged the suspects parked their vehicle and remained in the car while observing the movements of the complainant who had been hired to carry some wares from Machipisa to Mbare.
As the complainant was loading the wares into his vehicle, he was arrested by council officials for violating traffic regulations.
They took him to their council offices to pay a fine.
The quartet followed from a distance.
The cops approached the complainant soon after he had paid the fine and accused him of evading duty.
They allegedly demanded a bribe threatening to arrest him and to confiscate the wares.
The complainant gave them US$100.
The group was arrested soon after while in possession of the marked bribe money.
Online Reporter