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THREE Chikombedzi-based police officers appeared before Chiredzi regional magistrate Geraldina Mutsotso to answer charges of demanding a bribe and later confiscating a fish monger’s goods as punishment for demanding a receipt.The three, Sergeant Ojilive Sibanda, 38, Constable Kelly Parwadza, 25, and Munyaradzi January, all based at Ndali Police Station, are said to have committed the crime when they were manning a roadblock at a point along the Ngundu/Tanganda highway.
The court heard that Mary Mahanya fell victim to the cops when she was travelling on a Checheche-bound commuter kombi while transporting buckets of fresh fish to the market.
It is alleged that Sergeant Sibanda stopped the kombi for routine police check-ups and ordered Mahanya to disembark after discovering the buckets of fish. The complainant was ordered to pay a $20 fine.
Mahanya then decided to phone her husband Onias Mafengu since she did not have any money with her.
It is alleged that her husband arrived within 30 minutes but had $7 which was not enough to settle the amount demanded by the traffic police.
It is further alleged that the couple had to spend about five hours at the roadblock trying to raise the money. Mafengu handed the money to January, one of the police details, but was not issued with a receipt.
After Mafengu demanded a receipt he was threatened and his fish was confiscated as additional punishment.
Mafengu later reported the matter at Ndali Police Station leading to the trio’s arrest.
The three accused officers pleaded not guilty and were remanded out of custody to May 14.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu