Two Braeside detectives in court for assault and e...

Two Braeside detectives in court for assault and extortion of suspect

Zim Now Writer

Two detectives stationed at ZRP Braeside have been arraigned before the courts charged with assault and criminal abuse of office.

Wellington Mlambo, 43, of ZRP, Braeside Camp, and Gracious Selemani, 35, of Unit L Extension, Chitungwiza, appeared before magistrate Ruth Moyo at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts charged with criminal abuse of duty as a public officer and assault.

They will appear in court on March 18.

The State, through prosecutor Rufaro Chonzi, alleges that on February 15, at around 0730 hours, the accused persons who are detectives from CID Braeside approached the complainant in Mbare, together with one detective Wagoneka and Chidhakwa, who are not yet arrested, and arrested him on allegations of receiving stolen property.

They escorted him to CID Braeside where they interviewed him and he denied the allegations.

During interviews, it is alleged that the accused persons took turns to assault complainant under his feet with a baton stick, forcing him to admit the crime.

The court heard that the accused person demanded money for the release of the complainant and were told that he had US$150 at home.

The complainant’s brother, Isaac Mutsura, was assigned to wait with the money at Mbare Musika Taxi Rank.

At around 1200 hours, the accused escorted complainant to Mbare Musika along Ardbennie Road and met Mutsura and ordered him to get into their car, a Mazda CX5 and handcuffed him together with complainant.

The State alleges that the accused also alleged that Mutsura was also a receiver of stolen property and drove to CID Braeside.

When they arrived, they removed handcuffs from complainant and instructed Mutsura to give the complainant the money and he complied.

The complainant later gave US$150 to Selemani who was out of office under a mango tree.

After a while, complainant was made to deposit US$15 fine for failure to maintain second hand goods register.

The State alleges that the complainant and his brother were later released.

The accused took the fine from the US$150 they had taken from the complainant since he had no more money.

While on the way, complainant discovered on urinating that his urine was mixed with blood and reported the matter at ZRP Mbare, leading to the arrest of the accused.