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Thubelihle Mabhena Court Reporter
A kombi driver last week kidnapped and assaulted a police officer who wanted to arrest him for illegal parking. Liberty Phiri, 25, of Magwegwe on Friday pleaded guilty to kidnapping and assault before before Bulawayo provincial magistrate Sibongile Msipa.
Prosecuting, Dennmore Kasenza told the court that on Wednesday at around 10.32AM, Paris Mugodi who is a police officer approached Phiri who was dangerously parked at Herbert Chitepo Street near Tredgold building.
He advised Phiri that he was under arrest and instructed him to drive his kombi to Bulawayo Central Traffic.
Mugodi then got into Phiri’s kombi and instead of driving to Bulawayo Central Traffic, Phiri drove to Basch Street Bus terminus popularly known as Egodini and proceeded along Khami road to Pumula, the court heard.
When he got to Khami road Phiri stopped because there was a police roadblock ahead. He then punched Mugodi twice on his head and as Mugodi attempted to escape from the Kombi he fell down.
Mugodi had to run away when another Kombi driver joined in the assault.
Kasenza said Mugodi was later assisted to arrest the two drivers by police officers who were manning the road block which was a few metres away.
Magistrate Msipa denied Phiri bail and remanded him to today for sentence.
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