Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
IT was all bait and no bite for two Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers stationed at the Criminal Investigations department (CID) Minerals in Mutare who drew public attention for close to an hour while resisting arrest after they were trapped and apprehended in the Central Business District last Friday for demanding an extra US$5 000 bribe from an accused person.
The two — Taona Zhou (37) and Observant Tinashe Marodza (37) — who were arrested at Blue Bottle Store in Mutare have since appeared in court facing extortion and bribery charges after they were allegedly caught in a sting operation receiving US$5 000 in bribe money.
They appeared before Harare magistrate. Ms Jesse Kufa last Saturday, where they were each granted US$100 bail.
The State alleges that the two officers solicited money from a transport operator in exchange of facilitating the release of trucks carrying mineral ore destined for Mozambique.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority, the complainant, Tawanda Zimbowa, who operates in the transport and logistics sector, was contracted alongside another driver to ferry mineral ore for a Chinese national.
The court heard that on March 21, the trucks were intercepted in Mutare by CID officers, including Zhou, who seized the drivers’ passports and vehicle registration books.
“Zhou informed the complainant that they were carrying consignments with false declaration papers and instructed them not to proceed until he clarified matters,” the State alleges.
Although the documents were later returned, the situation escalated when the officers allegedly demanded payment to facilitate the trucks’ passage through the border.
The State told the court that the complainant later learnt through a clearing agent that a US$15 000 bribe had already been paid to the accused persons, but had not been distributed to other officials as allegedly agreed.
Matters came to a head on March 25 when Zhou allegedly contacted one of the drivers demanding a further US$5 000.
“Zhou contacted Langford Kamanga, and demanded US$5 000 in bribe to facilitate the trucks’ release,” the State said.
The matter was reported to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), which authorised a trap operation.
On March 26, ZACC officers accompanied the complainant to Mutare, where a meeting was arranged with the accused at a food outlet in the Central Business District.
During the meeting, the two officers allegedly confirmed they were ready to receive the money before directing the complainant to follow them.
“Accused One and Two confirmed they had the money with them,” the State alleges.
“The parties proceeded to a nearby location, where the complainant handed over the trap money under surveillance.
Zhou opened the vehicle door, ZACC officers intervened and apprehended both accused persons,” said the prosecutor.
A search reportedly recovered the marked trap money on the front seat of the vehicle.
The State maintains that the accused “acted unlawfully” by demanding and receiving a bribe in connection with their official duties.
The two are facing charges of extortion as defined under Section 134 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, or alternatively bribery under Section 170 of the same Act.
They were remanded to a later date for trial continuation.
