Police officers trapped at Harare Magistrates Court while soliciting for bribes
HARARE — Two police officers are in trouble with the law after they were reportedly caught pants down last week, soliciting a bribe from an accused person on the promise they would testify in his favour.
For a bribe of US$1,000 police constables Shinnon Mihloro aged 32 and Fortune Simbarashe Matoma, 31, told an accused they would fight in his corner without regard of a sworn an oath taken before court.
The pair are now battling for their freedom at Harare magistrates court where they face charges of criminal abuse of duty as public officers.
Harare magistrate Barbra Mateko remanded the accused out of custody to November 30 for trial.
Allegations are that on 15 September 2022 at Harare Magistrates Court, Shinnon and Fortune one or both of them, in exercise of their duties as public officers, unlawfully and intentionally demanded a bribe of US$1000 from Simbarashe Chaendera.
Prosecutor Zebadah Bofu, alleged, this was in order to testify in his favour in case which was before the courts, a conduct which is contrary to or inconsistent with their duties as public officers of the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
The complainant is State represented by Gibson Mapangai, 52, who is employed in the Zimbabwe Republic Police holding the rank of Inspector and currently stationed at Police General Headquarters Internal Investigations.
The two accused police officers are stationed at CID Drugs and Narcotics in Harare.
Shinnon and Fortune’s familiarity with their target dates back to March 2022, when they were part of a team that arrested Titus Sangila and Simbarashe Chaendera for unlawful possession of dangerous drugs, the court heard.
On 14 September 2022 the now informant Simbarashe Chaendera approached the PGHQ Internal offices after the accused persons had demanded a bribe of US$1000 from him so that they could testify in his favour in the above case which is before the courts.
Simbarashe Chaendera took with him US$70 which would be used to trap money.
On 15 September 2022 Inspector Gibson Mupangal applied for a trap certificate and was accompanied by Assistant Inspectors Demba to execute the trap at Harare Magistrates Court.
Upon arrival at the court the informant Simbarashe Chaendera met accused 2, Fortune Simbarashe Matoma, at the door and told him that he was wanted in court.
Later the informant met Fortune outside the courtroom and he told him that they should give them the money, it is alleged.
The state further alleged that the informant put his hand in the pocket intending to handover the money to him but he indicated to the informant that he should go upstairs and handover the money to accused 1, Shinnon Mihloro.
The informant went upstairs and met accused 1, Shinnon Mihloro, whom he gave money US$70 trap money in the corridor.
The informant gave a signal that he had handed over the money to the team of police officers which was led by Inspector Mupanga and that the money was in accused 1’s hands, the court heard.
The police officers approached accused 1 who was in possession of the trap money and it was recovered by Assistant Inspector Demba from her. The complainant showed accused 1 the trap authority and the money that was recovered from her tallied with that was written on the trap authority, 2x US $20-00 and 3 x US$ 10-00, prosecutors said.
The accused persons refused to sign the trap authority and Indicated they would consult with their legal practitioners, the court heard.
The trap money US$70 was recovered and the trap authority in court as exhibits.
The first accused, Shinnon Mihloro is being represented by Malvern Mapako from Rubaya and Chatambudza legal practitioners.
