Chronicle Editor
Sinokubonga Nkala [email protected]
A 35-YEAR-OLD magistrate from Gwanda, found himself behind bars, facing charges of bribery and criminal abuse of duty.
He allegedly sought a US$3 000 bribe from an ex-husband of an applicant, offering his dubious assistance in a legal matter in return.
The Zimbabwe criminal law act states that any public officer who receives or solicits a bribe commits an offence and shall be liable to a fine or imprisonment.
In an official statement on X, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe confirmed that Talent Phiri was arraigned before the Bulawayo Magistrates’ Court facing a charge bribery as a public officer.
“On the 27th of August 2024, the accused person, who is a magistrate, granted an Interim Protection Order in favour of an applicant who applied against her former husband. A warrant of arrest was attached on the Interim Protection Order as per procedure. Allegations are that, on the 4th of September 2024, the accused person solicited for a US$3 000 bribe from the applicant’s ex-husband, who is the informant, so that he assists him with the case.
“He claimed that members from the President’s Office, National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Republic Police had an interest in his case and would want him locked up in jail. The informant negotiated down to US$2 500 and they reached an agreement. The accused person instructed the informant to bring the money to his place of residence. The informant made phone call recordings and reported the matter to the police, leading to the arrest of the accused person through a trap.”
The court ruled that Phiri will stay in custody until the next hearing on 9 September 2024.
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