adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A BULAWAYO man allegedly kidnapped a police officer who was trying to arrest him for smuggling goods at Plumtree Border Post, a magistrate heard yesterday. Gift Moyo, 43, of Cowdray Park suburb, appeared on initial remand before Plumtree magistrate, Livard Philemon, and was remanded out of custody to August 24.
Prosecuting, Jane Phiri requested the court to put Moyo on remand while the State corrected the charge against him.
Moyo is facing a charge of kidnapping and threatening a police officer, Constable Douglas Marashidze, with death.
The police officer is stationed at Plumtree Police Station.
Moyo is being represented by Prince Butshe of Mcijo, Dube and Partners.
“Your Worship, I beg you to place my client on remand while the State corrects the charges levelled against him for the sake of progress,” said Butshe.
Moyo allegedly kidnapped the police officer, who is under the Police Internal Section and Intelligence (PISI) and drove away with him for a distance of more than 10 kilometres and then threatened to stab him with a knife while at a bushy area.
Phiri told the court that Marashidze was operating from the Plumtree Border Post on August 4 around 3PM together with other police officers when Moyo arrived in his vehicle. She said Moyo had three women on board.
Moyo, who was coming from Botswana on his way to Bulawayo, went through all Zimra and immigration formalities.
He proceeded to the entry gate where Marashidze and other police officers requested to search his car. Phiri said the police officers discovered that Moyo had smuggled goods and they ordered Moyo’s passengers to disembark.
She said Marashidze got into the vehicle and ordered Moyo to return to the border complex to offload his goods.
Moyo allegedly sped off while the cop was in the vehicle.
Phiri said Moyo drove for a distance of about 10 kilometres from the border and reached a bushy area where he produced a knife and threatened to stab Marashidze to death.
She said the policeman managed to escape through an unlocked door.
Marashidze alerted his workmates who later apprehended Moyo.
Online Reporter