US police officer fined for possessing knife

Joseph Monte Hutchings, who resides at number 3450 Mecartney Road, Alameda, California, USA, and is employed by the United States Division of Police Patrol Operations, State of California, as an undercover agent, was convicted on his own plea of guilty to contravening sections of the Immigration Act (failure to comply with the condition of an issued permit) and that of the Criminal Law (Reform and Codification) Act (possession of a prohibited knife) by Beitbridge magistrate Mr Carrington Karidzagundi.
The knife was also forfeited to the State as part of the sentence.
The prosecutor, Mr Marvelous   Chikomo, said on 5 February, Hutchings arrived in the country through Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo.
He then proceeded to the immigration counters and applied for a permit to stay in Zimbabwe under the guise that he was on a holiday visit.
He was then issued with a 30-day holiday permit.
The court heard that soon after he was granted the permit, Hutchings proceeded to Malilangwe Conservancy in Chiredzi where there was a drug and tranquilisation capture course and he enrolled for the programme.
He attended the course between 10 February and 18 February, in breach of his visa conditions.
Acting on a tip-off, police detectives descended on Hutchings during which time further investigations led to the discovery of a prohibited electric knife and he was arrested.