adminAsst Comm Matsika (32), of Number 7 Bentley Place, corner Leopold Takawira Avenue and Clark Street, Bulawayo, had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
He was being charged with five counts of contravening Section 26 (1) (b) of the Dangerous Drugs Regulations 111 1/75 as read with Sections 14 and 12 (4) of the Dangerous Drugs Act, Chapter 15:02 and alternative charges of contravening Section 13 (11) of the same regulations, (supply dangerous drugs to addicts).
He was also charged with contravening Section 28 (2) of the Firearms Act, Chapter 10:09 (failure to secure a firearm) and contravening Section 26 (1) (b) of the Censorship and Entertainment Act, Chapter 10:04 (possession of prohibited articles).
Allegations against him were that between October 2008 and July last year, and at various places, which include Galen House and his residence, he sold quantities of Pethidine, a dangerous and controlled drug to six addicts.
The State further alleged that between 25 and 28 July last year, Asst Comm Matsika, being a senior police officer who may lawfully possess a service firearm, kept his police service pistol in an insecure place, an unlocked wardrobe, at his residence as opposed to a gun cabinet as required by the Act.
On 28 July last year, a search was conducted at his residence and the State alleged that 16 discs containing pornographic material were recovered in a paper bag in his kitchen.
Mr Thompson Hove of the Attorney General’s Office prosecuted and Mr Munyaradzi Nzarayapenga of Dube-Banda, Nzarayapenga and Partners defended Asst Comm Matsika.
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