Police constable jailed for obstructing justice

Mr Kumarpal Natwar Shingadia has been acquitted of fraud and theft of trust property charges by the Harare Regional Court

After being acquitted last year of participating in the armed robbery of US$2,7 million of ZB Bank cash in 2021, Dennis Madondo (33) from Murehwa is now on trial for money laundering, using proceeds from criminal activities to purchase a luxury vehicle and being in possession of large sums of cash.

Police constable jailed for obstructing justice

Freeman Razemba

Senior Reporter

A 21-year-old member of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) constabulary will perform 525 hours of community service following his conviction for obstructing justice, having confessed to manipulating evidence in a drug-related inquiry.

Nqobile Mutale was convicted this week by the Lupane Magistrates’ Court over the offence.

Mutale was deployed at Lupane Terminus Base on September 18, when he received information implicating Thulani Sibanda in unlawful possession of dagga.

He arrested Sibanda and escorted him to the police base.

Instead of processing the evidence in full, he connived with Sibanda to conceal part of the recovered dagga.

Subsequent investigations led police detectives to uncover the hidden stash behind the police base after Mutale voluntarily led them to the location.

He pleaded guilty to the offence and was sentenced to 24 months in prison, of which nine months were suspended.

The remaining 15 months were suspended on condition that he completes 525 hours of community service.