Four arrested for impersonating CID officers

Zim Now Writer

Police on Saturday arrested four suspects who were impersonating Criminal Investigating Department Drugs and Narcotics officers and extorting money from members of the public through threats of arrest.

The suspects are Liberty Chigwida, 74, Nyaradzai Chikoore, 37, Fungai Matinenga, 32 and Savious Mbewe, 46.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the four were using a blue Honda Fit, registration number, AEQ 8160 to commit various criminal acts.

Police also found them in possession of drugs during the raid.

Two complainants were duped US$300 and US$500 in Machipisa and Highfield respectively.

In an unrelated incident, four police officers have been charged with theft and criminal abuse of duty after being caught red-handed soliciting for a bribe from a motorist and stealing his phone in Harare on Thursday last week.

The accused, who are all constables, are Gideon Gunda, 34, stationed at Jotsholo Police Station, Admire Nyuke, 36, of Chegutu Police Station and one Matsika stationed at Dete Police Station and the fourth only identified as Tino stationed at Harare Central Police Station.

According to a leaked police internal memo, Stephen Mavhiya was driving a Ford Ranger pickup vehicle along Samora Machel Avenue when he stopped to pick up his friend.

Gunda and his colleagues intercepted him, accusing him of picking up a pedestrian at an undesignated point.

Gunda removed Mavhiya from the driver's seat, took over control of the vehicle and demanded bribe money amounting to US$500, threatening to seize his vehicle.

Mavhiya informed his brother Victor Mavhiya, who advised him not to fall for the threat.

As a way of buying time, Mavhiya tricked the police officers that he wanted to withdraw cash from a bank in Southerton and later in Mount Pleasant because he had failed to get the cash.

When they reached the Mount Pleasant bank, Gunda and his colleagues became suspicious and fled from the scene.

They were intercepted by Victor along Upper East Road and Gunda’s three other colleagues stormed off the vehicle while a mob attacked him.

Police reacted to the report, leading to Gunda’s arrest.