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POLICE Assistant Commissioner Gidion Baloyi, who was last month jailed for nine months for bringing the force into disrepute, has been fired.Baloyi was last Friday granted bail by the High Court pending his appeal against conviction and the jail term.
He corruptly instructed a junior officer to release a fraud suspect. Baloyi appealed to the High Court against the decision to deny him bail pending appeal. Justice Garainesu Mawadze granted $500 bail coupled with stringent conditions.
Police sources yesterday said Baloyi was last Friday discharged from the force in terms of Section 49 of the Police Act, which relates to discharge following conviction or inquiry.
The dismissal is with effect from last Friday and a memorandum to that effect has been circulated to all police stations countrywide.
Section 49 of the Police Act says, “An officer who is (a) convicted of any offence and sentenced therefore to imprisonment without the option of a fine whether or not the execution of such sentence is suspended; or (b) found to be unfit to remain in the police force as the result of an inquiry conducted in terms of Section 50 or in terms of the Commissions of Inquiry Act (Chapter 10:07); may be discharged from the police force by the President, acting on the advice of the minister tendered after consultation with the commissioner.”
Section 50 provides for a board of inquiry where a member is unsuitable or unfit to remain in office or to retain his rank, seniority or salary.
A board of inquiry consisting of not less than three officers of a rank not below that of superintendent, as may be considered necessary by the Commissioner-General, may be convened to inquire into the suitability or fitness of accused.
Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said she was out of office since last week, adding “but from what I understand he is now an ex-member”.
Baloyi, a senior staff officer at Police General Headquarters in Harare, was jailed for trying to protect Nevermind Kufakunesu.
Kufakunesu is a fraud suspect related to a police inspector based in Chivhu.
Baloyi contravened provisions of the Police Act that make it an offence to act in any manner likely to discredit the force. He had pleaded not guilty but was convicted on overwhelming evidence.
Baloyi instructed a detective inspector investigating a fraud case involving Kufakunesu to let the suspect go.
Online Reporter