Cops in court for criminal abuse of office

Michael Mashiri

Two Mbare police officers, who appeared in court accused of collecting money from cars, have been given bail.

Victoria Shonhiwa, 36, of Southlea Park and Naume Dube, 31, of Budiriro 1, appeared before magistrate Standford Mambanje at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts charged with criminal abuse of office.

They were ordered to deposit US$100 as bail and will appear in court on April 4, for a possible trial date.

The State, through prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti, alleges that on March 11, at around 1145 hours the Police General Headquarters Internal Investigations team visited ZRP Mbare, responding to a tip-off from the public that police officers deployed at the main gate were collecting money from motorists that were being released from Mbare Police Station without being given receipts for passage.

It is alleged that the team planted itself at different points around the main gate.

They made surveillance for about 20 minutes and saw some cars coming out of ZRP Mbare.

It is alleged that three cars passed, leaving money at the gate, ADG 6098, ACI 8287 and ADL 6197.

They then pounced on Shonhiwa and introduced themselves.

It is alleged that were directed to go to the nearby guardroom for searches and refused.

The State alleges that at that point, Dube suddenly became violent.

The female officers from Internal Investigations tried to apprehend her and force-march her to the guardroom but she resisted.

She tried to destroy a paper with registration plates that were being recorded from ZRP Mbare main gate occurrence book, which she was holding.

Dube was, however overpowered by Internal Investigations members, who then retrieved the paper with a list of some cars and was kept as exhibit.

During the process, one Shoko arrived driving a Toyota Passo, registration number AFF 7749, out of ZRP Mbare and he stopped his car, called Shonhiwa and told her that he was told to leave a US$1 to the police officers manning the main gate.

Shonhiwa refused the money and Shoko drove away.

The two accused were searched by Internal Investigations female police officers and Dube was found with US$120, Shonhiwa was searched but no money was found on her.