malvernmugadzikwa
Online Reporter
FIVE police constables who had been tasked to undertake an operation codenamed ‘No to Illegal Sand Poaching’ in Ruwa appeared in court today facing charges of criminal abuse of office after they received a US$5 bribe from a truck driver.
Dennis Tafadzwa Chivaku, Freeway Muninipi, Givemore Mucheka, Sharon Madondo and Gertrude Ndanga appeared before regional magistrate, Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa.
They were not asked to plead to the charges and were remanded to September 5 on US$50 bail.
Prosecuting, Mr Anesu Chirenje said sometime last month, a complaint that some police officers were demanding money from sand poaching truck drivers was lodged at the Police General Headquarters.
On July 1, the PGHQ internal investigations team set up a trap for the five police officers.
The internal investigations team and an informer who was driving a five-tonne truck carrying sand went to Sunway City in Ruwa where the five were conducting their operations.
The five police officers, who were using Mucheka’s vehicle, then intercepted the informer.
They allegedly demanded US$5 from the truck driver so that they could allow him to pass.
The informant allegedly handed the money to Mucheka, who then placed it in his car’s glove apartment in full view of Chief Inspector Tomwe Maxwell.
This led to the five’s arrest.
Online Reporter