Zvikomborero Parafini
YET another police officer stationed at ZRP Borrowdale has been arrested in the latest chapter of a major corruption scandal, which has rocked the station, and shaken its leadership.
Phibion Musadha, 45, is the latest police officer to be sucked into the crisis.
It was sparked by allegations that officers from the station teamed up to threaten and rob Chinese national Feng Lin.
He joins fellow ZRP Borrowdale police officers – Palmer Hotera, Takuranashe Magomba, Rwisai Mazikana, Kings Kasengezi and Patricia Thomas – who are already on remand in connection with the case.
Inspector Farai Gwamure (51), the Acting Officer-in-Charge at Borrowdale Police Station, has also been sucked into the case.
He appeared before Harare magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa on Wednesday facing charges of extortion, criminal abuse of duty as a public officer and defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
He was remanded on bail of US$200.
The officers were allegedly trying to recover money arising from a failed chrome transportation deal.
Musadha was granted US$200 bail and ordered to reside at his given address, not to interfere with witnesses and to report once every fortnight at CID Police Anti-Corruption.
He appeared before Harare regional magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa.
He is facing robbery and criminal abuse of duty charges.
The State alleges that Lin entered into a deal with Nina Zheng to transport chrome from Zimbabwe to Mozambique.
The deal allegedly collapsed after the chrome was offloaded in Mutare, instead of Mozambique, resulting in Zheng demanding a refund of US$13,050.
Prosecutors allege Zheng, who is still at large, then enlisted Musadha and the other police officers to forcefully recover the money.
On October 13, Zheng and the police officers allegedly went to Lin’s Borrowdale home, armed with a Mossberg rifle.
The officers were allegedly travelling in Zheng’s Land Cruiser and a ZRP Ford Ranger.
They found the gate locked and called Lin, demanding immediate payment and allegedly threatening him in the process.
Lin allegedly instructed his driver to hand over US$3,000 to the group at a service station in Pomona as part payment.
Despite the payment, the group allegedly remained at his home and threatened to jump over the precast wall if he refused to open the gate.
Lin allegedly transferred a further US$7,500 into Zheng’s bank account, bringing the amount paid to US$10,500.
The State alleges Musadha, Hotera and Magomba later jumped over the wall, assaulted Lin’s gardener before forcing open the kitchen door and entering the house.
They allegedly searched the house and found Lin in his bedroom, where they allegedly pointed the rifle at him, handcuffed and assaulted him while demanding the outstanding US$2,500.
It is further alleged that the officers demanded another US$1,000 from Lin, threatening to hand him over to immigration authorities for deportation if he failed to pay.
Lin allegedly produced US$1,000 from his trousers pocket, which Hotera allegedly took before the officers removed the handcuffs and left.
The State alleges the group unlawfully obtained US$13,500 from Lin on Zheng’s behalf and a further US$1,000 for his release.
The State claims Gwamure, as the Officer-In-Charge at the station, was allegedly enlisted by Zheng to forcibly recover the money.
The court heard that Gwamure allegedly supplied the group with a Mossberg shotgun and he instructed Fidelis Muyambo, who was manning the charge office, to hand it to Magomba.
After the police raid at his house, Feng went to Borrowdale Police Station to report that he had been robbed of US$11,000.
However, the State alleges that Gwamure, knowing that his alleged accomplices were implicated, attempted to prevent the report from being formally recorded.
He allegedly turned the businessman away, promising to call him later.
Gwamure is further accused of summoning the businessman back to his office, where he allegedly produced US$900 from his pocket and claimed it was the money the businessman had reported stolen.
When Feng protested that the amount was only US$900, Gwamure allegedly took a US$100 note from beneath a diary on his desk and handed it to him, making it US$1,000.
