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Beitbridge Bureau
Two cops and an immigration officer at Beitbridge Border Post who were recently arrested by the police Anti-Corruption Unit for allegedly taking a R500 bribe from five undocumented immigrants have been cleared of the charges.Robson Tapfuma (30), an accounts assistant with the Department of Immigration, and policemen Rangarirai Makuavaza (30) and Meluleki Sibanda were arrested by the crack team on September 23.
The three were jointly charged with criminal abuse of duty as public officers as defined in Section 171(1) of the Criminal Law (Reform and Codification) Act (Chapter 9.23). They denied the charges when their trial opened.
After three witnesses testified against the trio, Mr Bepura ruled that the State had failed to prove a case against them. Prosecutor Mr Foster Abheki alleged that on the evening of September 23, five undocumented immigrants on a bus from South Africa to Zimbabwe tried to pass through the border post.
It was alleged they gave the bus driver, Martin Mutasa, R100 each to facilitate their illegal passage. Mr Abheki said the bus crew went through the usual border formalities and proceeded to the last immigration check point, where they were stopped by the accused persons.
The three, the court was told, checked all passengers’ passports and discovered the five undocumented persons.
Online Reporter