Rapist cop jailed 18yrs

Lovemore Kadzura Rusape Correspondent
A BUHERA policeman, who raped a handcuffed suspect at his home, has been sentenced to an effective 18 years in prison.

Costa Mujuru (66) of Sumburero Village in Chief Nyashanu’s area had pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Mrs Loice Mukunyadzi last week.

He was convicted due to overwhelming evidence against him.

Mrs Mukunyadzi sentenced Mujuru to 20 years in custody and suspended two years on condition of good behaviour.

The 25-year-old woman told the court that she begged Mujuru to allow her to sleep in a separate room or with his daughter-in-law, but he refused saying he wanted to guard her during the night as she was under arrest.

Rusape district prosecutor, Mr Tirivanhu Mutyasira, told the court that Mujuru who is a police special constabulary left a police base with the woman on the pretext that he was proceeding to her homestead to recover a stolen cellphone.

Mr Mutyasira said along the way, Mujuru decided to take the woman to his homestead.

“On May 3 at around 6am and at Muchandibaya Village in Chief Nyashanu’s area, Mujuru arrested the complainant for allegedly stealing a cellphone from a fellow villager.

Mujuru proceeded with the complainant to Chirozva Police Base where a docket of theft was opened against her.

“At around 4pm on the same date, Constable Chiwoko who was manning the base ordered the accused person to proceed with the complainant to her homestead to recover the cellphone.”

He added: “Mujuru left saying he was going with the complainant to her homestead. Instead of taking her to her homestead, he took her to his homestead. They arrived at Mujuru’s homestead at around 9pm. He ordered the complainant to sleep with him in the same hut.”

Mujuru is alleged to have slept on the bed while the complainant slept on the floor.

“At around 10pm, Mujuru went to where the complainant was sleeping and raped her twice during that night.

“The matter came to light the following day when the complainant’s husband asked what had happened during the time she was under arrest. She disclosed that she was raped by Mujuru,” said Mr Mutyasira.