Kombi driver remanded over police officer’s assault

Senior Court Reporter
A 50-year-old kombi driver, who was angry at being issued with a ticket for overloading went berserk and assaulted a traffic police officer before striking him with a pair of handcuffs resulting in his uniform getting torn. Jonathan Nkomo of House Number 3640 Emganwini in Bulawayo pleaded not guilty to assault when he appeared before Western Commonage magistrate, Mr Themba Chimiso.
He was remanded on $200 bail to today.

The prosecutor, Mrs Charity Nyathi, said on 29 June at about 10am, the complainant, Constable Nyengedzerai Masuku of ZRP Bulawayo Traffic section was manning a roadblock along Khami Road with a colleague when he stopped Nkomo, who was driving a Toyota Hiace.

On inspecting the vehicle, Const Masuku discovered that it was overloaded.
He then ordered Nkomo to pay a fine of $10 for the offence.

The court was told that Nkomo became violent during which he pushed the complainant before striking him with a sharp object.
Nkomo grabbed Const Masuku’s pair of handcuffs as he was trying to arrest him and struck him on the face.

He further struck him in between his legs resulting in his pair of trousers getting torn.
Const Masuku’s colleague managed to apprehend Nkomo leading to his arrest.