The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube
Post Correspondent
TWO Mutare men who pretended to be police officers and demanded bribes from five unsuspecting business people in Chigodora were recently busted and arraigned before the courts.
Learnmore Dukwende (23) and Simbarashe Gowani (28), both from Westlea suburb, appeared before Mutare magistrate, Ms Annie Ndiraya, facing five counts of impersonating a police officer as defined in Section 179 (1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act), Chapter 09:23.
Dukwende was this week sentenced to 36 months in prison, while Gowani pleaded not guilty.
He was remanded in custody to February 23.
Gowani told the court that he was only a transporter and was not aware that he was transporting a fake police officer.
The fake police officers duped the five business people using the same method.
They would say they were police detectives from Mutare’s Criminal Investigations Department.
Mrs Tafadzwa Zulu prosecuted.
In the first count, Dukwende and Gowani pounced on Richard Ndima who operates a butchery at Chitakatira Business Centre.
“On January 25, the two accused persons hatched a plan to dupe business people in Chigodora area. They proceeded to Chitakatira Business Centre driving in a white Mercedes Benz. Gowani was driving the car.
“When they arrived, Dukwende proceeded into Ndima’s butchery and introduced himself as Detective Sergeant Masango of CID Mutare who was on an operation to check on shop licences. Gowani was left in the motor vehicle parked outside Ndima’s butchery.
“Dukwende told the complainant to produce his butchery licence, but he failed to do so. Ndima gave Dukwende a US$10 bribe. Dukwende left the butchery. Ndima later realised that the accused person was not a police officer and reported the matter to the police. Nothing was recovered,” said Mrs Zulu.
In another offence committed on the same day, they pounced on Trymore Taanarwo Munyebvu who operates a butchery in the same area.
“The two accused persons proceeded to Saburi Business Centre and Dukwende went into Munyebvu’s butchery shop and introduced himself as Detective Sergeant Masango of CID Mutare who was on an operation to check on shop licences.
Gowani was left in the motor vehicle parked near the shop. Dukwende told the complainant to produce his butchery licence but he failed to do so.
“Dukwende got a US$20 bribe but the complainant later realised that the accused person was not a police officer and reported the matter to the police,” said Mrs Zulu.
In the third count, the two proceeded to Way Jojo Shop at Saburi Business Centre and Dukwende went to the complainant, Listen Muguyo’s shop, and introduced himself as Detective Sergeant Masango of CID Mutare
.
“Gowani was again left in the motor vehicle. Dukwende asked the complainant to produce his shop licence.
“Dukwende was shown the shop licence and noted the licence number in his diary before leaving the shop. The complainant later realised that the accused persons were fake police officers and reported the matter to the police.
“On January 28, Dukwende and Gowani were arrested by Sergeant Pitso of ZRP Mutare Rural Police Station after a tip-off. The accused persons led Detective Sergeant Sigauke, as well as Detective Constables Chatikobo and Chafa to the crime scenes for indications,” said Mrs Zulu.
