adminAbel Zhakata Senior Reporter
A VEHICLE Inspection Department officer stationed in Mutare was last Friday hauled before the courts on allegations of receiving a $700 bribe from a motorist who wanted his impounded car released. Lawrence Bonyongwe (46) of House Number 1640 Chikanga 2 appeared before Mr Langton Mukwengi last Friday for criminally abusing his office.
He was granted $300 bail. The case goes for trial on November 10. Bonyongwe who was represented by Mr Victor Chinzamba of Mugadza, Chinzamba and Partners Legal Practitioners denied the charges. Public prosecutor, Ms Christine Mwenga, told the court that the complainant, Garikai Mukwada’s vehicle – a Mazda B2200 (CW43PBGP) – was impounded on October 12 by VID Mutare for having several defects.
Mukwada was issued with a Vehicle Inspection Report and a notice prohibiting its use. The complainant was fined $80 and subsequently issued with an admission of guilt Z69J receipt. Ms Mwenga said the VID could not release the vehicle to the complainant as he did not have a Zimbabwean driver’s licence.
He was also told that the chasis number on his vehicle was different from the one on the data plate.
On October 14, acting in his capacity as a VID officer, Bonyongwe demanded a $700 bribe to release the vehicle. He was given $600 by the complainant but decided to hold on to his passport as surety that he be paid the remaining $100. The impounded vehicle was then released to Mukwada.
On October 22, the matter was reported to the police as Bonyongwe pestered the complainant to pay him the $100 balance. Police detectives then set up a trap and used marked $50 notes. The complainant then invited Bonyongwe to Manyati Bottle-store where he gave him the marked notes. He was subsequently arrested by detectives.
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