Cops jailed 2 years for extorting R1200 bribe from...

Cops jailed 2 years for extorting R1200 bribe from suspected drug dealer

Two police officers have been jailed for an effective one and half years after they were convicted of taking a bribe from a suspect they had raided and arrested for illegal possession of drugs.

Chronicle reports that the ZRP Beitbridge Rural stationed Andrew Masakadza, 37, and Fungai Gomo, 33, on October 23, 2023 at around 9 pm, Masakadza and Gomo received intelligence that Youbeen Mudimba was selling drugs at her house known as Happy’s Kitchen at Lutumba Business Centre.

The two cops dressed in civilian clothes got to the place and searched the shop.

They handcuffed the complainant and another villager present, Simbabrashe Ndou.

On entering the shop with the handcuffed duo, the police officers found 30 by 100 ml bottles of Broncleer syrup, 250 twists of dagga (mbanje), and a plastic sachet containing us$100 and R8000.

Masakadza said he was arresting Mudimba and wanted a R2 000 bribe to let her go.

Mudimba called her sister, Happiness Muleya and told her about the happenings.

The two police officers then removed the handcuffs from the Mundimba and Ndou and drove with Mudimba towards the Lutumba Police Base.

On the way Mudimba revealed that she had a business partner named Kudakwashe Chauke. The two cops called Chauke demanding the R2 000. Chauke offered them R1 200.

After the cops took the money, a report was made att the ZRP Beitbridge Rural police station and the pair was arrested.

When they appeared in court, Masakadza and Gomo both denied the charges of Criminal Abuse of office as public officials but Beitbridge resident Magistrate, Mr Takudzwa Gwazemba convicted them on the strength of the State’s evidence.

Gwazemba sentenced both to two years in prison each and conditionally suspended six months for five years.