The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure : Crime Reporter
SIX dealers who had 98 bales of second hand clothes and shoes confiscated by police learnt it the hard way after an ill-advised attempt to grease the palms of a senior cop with $2 000 to facilitate the contraband’s release backfired, leading to their re-arrest.The six are Silas Moyo (23) of Number 7878 Glen View 3 Harare, Petunia Dhewa (26) of 9 Potria Road Msasa, Concillata Mamire (35) of 3021, Glen View 3, Harare, Mercy Gondo (34) of 10 Rusununguko Road, Zengeza 5, Chitungwiza, Gerald Mapunga (48, of Block 1, Matererini, Mbare, Harare and Winnie Sibanda (33) of 11 Seke Road, Harare.
They were arrested on allegations of violating Section 170 of the Criminal (Law and Codification Reform) Act after approaching the Officer-in-Charge, CID Rusape, Detective Inspector Simon Nyamupfukudza, in his office with a $2 000 carrot.
The six jointly raised the money in a desperate bid to illegally influence the release of 72 bales of second hand clothes and 26 of second hand shoes, which were impounded at around 1am on July 23, 2016 in two Nissan Caravans (ACZ 0472) and (ACZ 5592) near Nyabadza Business Centre along the Nyanga-Rusape Road.
The six accused persons were on July 27 arraigned before Rusape provincial magistrate Mr Shingi Mutiro, who remanded each of them out of custody on $30 bail.
The six, who were self actors, were not asked to plead.
The matter was remanded to August 19 for trial.
District public prosecutor,
Mr Tirivanhu Mutyasira, told the court that the six went to ZRP Rusape urban seeking the release of their contraband, but were informed that the decision to release it rested with the judiciary after the finalisation of the matter.
“They asked for the Officer-in-Charge CID Rusape, Detective Inspector Simon Nyamupfukudza and his deputy’s contact details and left. They started calling the OIC, exuding their willingness to raise bribe money to facilitate the release of the bales,” said Mr Mutyasira.
Det Insp Nyamupfukudza pretended as if he was interested and informed his superiors on July 26 that Silas Moyo had called saying they had jointly raised $2 000.
“Permission to set up a trap was sought and authority was granted. Moyo called again informing Det Insp Nyamupfukudza that he had arrived at the police station and was directed to proceed to his office,” said Mr Mutyasira.
Mr Mutyasira said two other details – Det Asst Inspector Zulu and Sergeant Muwowo were on observation in an armoury room in that office.
“Immediately after finishing counting and handing over the $2 000 to the OIC, the observing team emerged from the adjacent room and arrested Moyo who then implicated the other five,” said Mr Mutyasira.
This was the second time that an attempt to bribe Det Inspector Nyamupfukudza backfired.
