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Mercy Ngwebvu
BRIBING a traffic police officer who was manning a roadblock at Mutare Teachers’ College with $5 landed two Chipinge men in trouble after they were each slapped with a fine of $150.Appearing before senior Mutare magistrate, Mrs Sekai Chiundura, Freeman Makone (28) and Richard Chivovo(38), who work together as commuter omnibus operators pleaded guilty to have bribed the police officer.
State prosecutor, Mr Brian Goto, told the court that the two arrived at the roadblock at around 11pm, driving a commuter omnibus (ADC7383), with 21 passengers on board en route to Mutare from Chipinge.
“The two were told to stop and upon vehicle inspection, the traffic officer noticed that the vehicle had neither vehicle fitness nor passenger insurance. They were then advised that they had contravened the Road Traffic Act.
“In their bid to be allowed to continue on their journey without a penalty ticket, Makone and Chivovo then handed over a $5 note to the traffic officer,” said Mr Goto.
The two, however, ran out of luck when their offer was turned down. They were subsequently arrested for bribing a law enforcement agent.
Asked by the magistrate why they had committed the offence, Makone and his accomplice professed ignorance, saying they did not know that bribery was a punishable offence.
“We did not know that it was an offence Your Worship. The money was meant for him to just buy a drink, nothing more. We also wanted him to quickly attend to us so we gave him the money,” they said.
Mrs Chiundura ordered them to pay $150 each as a fine for the offence.
Online Reporter