A POLICEMAN based at ZRP Glen View, who was facing a charge of cr!m!nal @bus3 of office, was yesterday released by Harare magistrate Feresi Chakanyuka.
The magistrate ruled that the State failed to present evidence that the @ccused received a US$80 br!be to release suspected k!dn@ppers from holding cells.
Joseph Mafuwa (48)was charged with allegations of soliciting for a br!be to release the trio which allegedly k!dn@pped and r0bbed a man based in Southlea Park in Harare.
However, in her ruling Chakanyuka said one of the State witnesses, a police officer, said he cross checked the docket and could not find the suspected k!dn@ppers’ names.
“The State failed to provide evidence that the @ccused solicited US$80 from one Brighton Mutandwa hence the @ccused is found not gu!lty and acquitted,” Chakanyuka said.
It was the State’s case that on March 17 last year, Mafuwa, who was the member-in-charge at the Market Square Police Post where a case of k!dn@pping and th32ft was reported
The case involved commuter omnibus crew.
Prosecutor Sheila Mupindu told the court that the trio were arrested and detained at the base and their motor vehicle was confiscated
Mafuwa advised the complaint, Tinashe Tawambirwa to follow up thye case at Harare Central Police Station the following day.
Mupindu also told the court that the kombi crew manager approached Mafuwa at the base and demanded US$80 to release the trio and the vehicle.
Due to the follow up made by Tawambirwa ,he discovered that there was no permanet record made of such case at Harare Central Police Station and reorted Mafuwa.
Source NewsDay
