adminMarvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
AN injiva who kidnapped a Gwanda police officer and later dumped him in the bush has been sentenced to four years in prison. Nkosilathi Nyathi (30) from Kafusi area in Gwanda was arraigned before Gwanda magistrate Ms Sheila Nazombe charged with three counts of kidnapping, failure to comply with police instructions and driving without a drivers’ licence.
Nyathi pleaded not guilty to the three counts.
He was sentenced to 48 months imprisonment for kidnapping, fined $100 for failure to comply with police instructions and was acquitted of driving without a driver’s licence after he produced one.
On 11 April this year at about 7pm at Shell Garage in Gwanda Town, Nyathi failed to control a South African registered Toyota Hilux he was driving and hit a vehicle, which was being driven by a Colleen Bawn police officer, Constable Rajiv Tange (27).
Const Tange was refuelling at the service station.
When other police officers attended to the scene, Nyathi was asked to produce his drivers’ licence but failed to do so.
He was then ordered to proceed to Gwanda Police Station in the company of Const Tange.
However, Nyathi diverted from the route and sped off towards Beitbridge with Const Tange on board.
He then dumped the police officer about 10km out of Gwanda Town.
Nyathi continued with his journey, but was later arrested in Beitbridge.
Mr Pernson Chekeya prosecuted and Nyathi was represented by Mr James Thompson Mabhikwa of Mabhikwa, Hikwa and Nyathi Legal Practitioners.
Online Reporter