The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure Senior Court Reporter
A SENIOR prosecutor based at Rusape Magistrates’ Court, James Wirima, has been arrested on charges of criminal abuse of office after he allegedly demanded and pocketed $250 bribe involving a case withdrawn before plea.
Wirima’s superior, Mr Tirivanhu Mutyasira, refused to comment, saying the suspect was set to appear before a different court (Mutare) on Wednesday.
A check at Mutare Magistrates’ Court showed that Wirima, who was represented by Mr Leonard Chigadza of Chigadza and Associates and Mr Taurai Khupe of Khupe Law Chambers, failed to appear after the prosecution noted some anomalies which they wanted police to attend to before hauling him before the courts.
Detectives have been tailing Wirima since last Thursday, but failed to arrest him until he finally surrendered himself and was arrested by Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Rusape late on Tuesday afternoon.
Wirima was allegedly operating a sophisticated bribing intercepting system involving one Lazarus Bonde and Given Mudzibwi, among others, who would approach and instruct suspects to grease his palms in exchange of their freedom.
His syndicate has courted controversy with lawyers arguing that they had become “endangered species” as most of clients were opting to paying directly to the unscrupulous syndicate operating at the court after initial remand.
CID Rusape officer-in-charge Detective Inspector Simon Nyamupfukudza confirmed Wirima’s arrest in connection with an incident in which he allegedly pocketed a $248 bribe from a Nyanga rape and robbery suspect, Arnold Hatinahama Tenderere.
Wirima is denying the allegations.
Det Insp Nyamupfukudza said Wirima approached Tenderere on the pretext that he should attend court on January 30, 2015, but on arrival, was directed to Rusape Bus Terminus to see and receive instructions from Bonde.
On meeting Bonde, Tenderere was told to either pay a $1 500 bribe or go to jail.
The figure was slashed to $500 after negotiations.
Tenderere paid $48 on March 13, 2015 to Bonde who phoned Wirima who rushed to collect the money in Mudzibwi’s company.
“Wirima collected the money in the complainant’s presence and when the two left, Bonde further instructed him to bring some reasonable money on March 19, 2015,” said Det Insp Nyamupfukudza.
According to police, Bonde went back home and sold one of his cattle to raise $200.
“He brought the $200 he had raised from selling his cattle and surrendered it to Bonde, who again phoned Wirima, who also came to collect the money in the company of Mudzibwi. They collected the money in Tenderere’s presence,” said Det Insp Nyamupfukudza.
Tenderere was given up to April 9, 2015, to clear off the $252 balance by Bonde.
On that day, Tenderere’s brother, Endless, who is a police officer at ZRP Kuwadzana, accompanied him to investigate the progress of the matter. He then discovered that the case had been withdrawn before plea on September 26, 2013.
“It was after being told by his brother that he was actually paying Wirima some money to quash the case that he decided to approach CID Rusape and lodged a complaint,” said Det Insp Nyamupfukudza.
A trap was then set with police giving Arnold fake $250 for onward submission to Bonde under surveillance.
As usual Bonde called Wirima, who told him that he was going to Murambinda on business. Bonde was further instructed to pass the money to Mudzibwi. He was told to pay $50 to Bonde for his intermediary role.
As the two transacted, CID officials pounced and recovered the money. Bonde and Mudzibwi admitted working under Wirima’s instructions. An attempt to lay an ambush for Wirima failed to yield desired results as he failed to pitch up and collect the money from Mudzibwi.
Efforts to locate him since Thursday were without success until he surrendered himself on Tuesday after repeated phone call exchanges with the police.
