Rusape cop convicted of bribery

Court Reporter
RUSAPE provincial magistrate, Ms Patience Ururu-Madondo, on Wednesday convicted a police officer stationed at Rusape Rural Police Station on charges of corruption.
Ms Ururu-Madondo found Tarisai Aston Manyika (29) guilty of demanding and pocketing $200 to throw away a case of assault involving Mahachi Chakanyuka who had allegedly assaulted Mugove Masamvu at Chikuse Business Centre on May 18.

Manyika who was represented by Mr Munyaradzi Manyengavana of Rusape-based law firm, Chiwanza and Partners Legal Practitioners had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

He was immediately remanded in custody and the magistrate was expected to sentence him yesterday.
Mr Tirivanhu Mutyasira prosecuted.

He appealed for custodial sentence given the gravity of the matter and the prevalence of the offence in Rusape.
Manyika becomes the second law enforcing agent to be convicted of corruption at Rusape Magistrates’ Court in less than two months following the incarceration of the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services officer, Clara Dembaremba on similar charges.

Mr Mutyasira told the court that Manyika and his subordinate, Constable Murambiwa, arrested Chakanyuka on a reported case of assault on May 27.
“He brought Chakanyuka to the station where he informed him that he can throw away the case if he agrees to pay him $300. He further told him he had forwarded the docket to court, but can still engage the prosecutor dealing with the case. He released the suspect after being promised $200,” said Mr Mutyasira.
Chakanyuka then approached a senior detective who trapped the corrupt cop on May 29.

Chakanyuka was given trap money — a $100 fake note with serial numbers AB55948900S and two $50 notes with serial numbers IF24576852A and IL77486497A from CID Rusape.

Manyika, who was not on duty on that day made arrangements to meet Chakanyuka at ZRP Rusape Rural.
He was later arrested along Tongogara Street in Rusape.

The trap money was recovered from him and was produced in court as an exhibit.
Manyika in denying the charges had claimed that Chakanyuka had planned to give him fake notes for booking prior to their destruction.
Mrs Ururu-Madondo convicted him due to overwhelming evidence.