The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura Rusape Correspondent
A DARING Rusape police officer who broke into the house of her workmate and stole strong room keys was last week found guilty of the offence and sentenced to four years imprisonment.
Brighton Katsande (32), a constable who was stationed at ZRP Rusape Central Information Communication Technology Department and was represented by Mr Tendai Bvuma of Bvuma and Associates pleaded not guilty when appeared before provincial magistrate, Mr Shane Kubonera.
However, Mr Kubonera found him guilty as the State availed overwhelming evidence against him. Katsande was being charged under Section 131 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9.23 which criminalises unlawful entry.
Katsande will, however, serve three years behind bars after Mr Kubonera suspended one year on condition of good behaviour.
State prosecutor, Mr Tafara Chawatama, told the court that Katsande broke into Tendai Mahere’s house located at ZRP Main Camp at night while he was in police uniform.
“On February 6 at around 12.20am, Mahere secured her house by closing windows and locking all doors. She placed six bunches of office and strong room keys on the headboard in her bedroom before retiring to bed leaving lights in her bedroom, passage spare bedroom and front of the house switched on.
“While Mahere was asleep, Katsande broke into her house. On the same day around 2am, Mahere woke up and discovered that the curtain on her bedroom window had been pushed aside. She closed the curtain and went back to sleep.
“At around 3am, Mahere woke up and discovered that her curtain on the bedroom window had been pushed aside again.
“She became suspicious and checked outside through the window, but did not see anything.
“When Mahere was returning to her bed, she saw Katsande hiding between the bed and wardrobe,” he said.
Mr Chawatama added that Mahere grabbed Katsande by the neck while screaming for help and others police officers came and immediately arrested him.
“Mahere grabbed Katsande by the neck while shouting for help and a struggle ensued. In the processes, Mahere then noted that the intruder was a police officer who works at Rusape Central. Katsande was wearing a police uniform, but had no shoes. Mahere asked Katsande what he wanted in her house and he confessed that he had returned with the complainant’s keys which he had earlier stolen from her house the same night.
“Mahere searched Katsande and recovered a bunch of ZRP Rusape District Headquarters strong room keys from Katsande’s back trousers pocket.
“Some receipts which were at the yard near the bedroom window of the complainant were recovered and Mahere positively identified them as the receipts which she had placed in the pocket of her jacket which was hanging on the fitted wardrobe in her bedroom.
“The value stolen is $514,19 and the recovered is $414-19,” said Mr Chawatama.
