adminMarvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
A popular Gwanda Town tout who assaulted two police officers when they tried to arrest him for urinating in public was yesterday sentenced to two years in jail.Martin Dube (30), of House Number 142 Senondo Township in Gwanda Town appeared before Matabeleland South magistrate-in-charge Mr Douglas Vakayi Chikwekwe facing two counts of urinating in public and assaulting police officers.
Dube had pleaded not guilty but was convicted and sentenced to an effective two-year jail term for assault.
He was also fined $50 or 25 days imprisonment for public urinating.
Sentencing Dube, Mr Chikwekwe said he was not a first time offender as he was recently convicted and given community service for indecent assault and thereby a custodial sentence was appropriate.
Mr Chikwekwe also said the courts were concerned over the increasing cases of people assaulting police officers in the country hence the need for a deterrent sentence to stop the misconduct.
“Assaulting police officers is a serious offence and recently a policeman was killed at the same business centre where Dube committed the offence. The accused undermined the authority of police officers.
“Police officers should not fear anyone in executing their duties,” he said.
Mr Chikwekwe said another aggravating factor was that Dube urinated in front of police officers one of whom was a female.
On 1 April this year at Phakama Business Centre, Dube assaulted two police officers when they tried to arrest him for urinating in public.
Mr Mncedisi Dube prosecuted.
Online Reporter