HARARE - A Southerton traffic police officer has been hauled before the courts for extorting money from commuter omnibuses.
Trymore Hofisi, 36, reportedly collected money from commuter omnibus drivers plying the Epworth-Mbare route before clearing them of alleged traffic offences. Hofisi appeared before Harare magistrate Tendai Mahwe charged with extortion or alternatively criminal abuse of office.
He was remanded to April 14 on $100 bail. The state alleged that sometime between January and February this year, Hofisi, who is attached to National Highway Patrol, was deployed at Kelvin Corner, Graniteside, in Harare.
He allegedly connived with Mugariro ‘Jacob’ Majoni to extort money from commuter omnibus drivers plying the Epworth-Mbare route.
Hofisi would refer kombi drivers that he had arrested to Majoni where they would pay a bribe before being cleared.
Majoni would record the vehicles’ registration, driver’s name and money contributed before handing it over to Hofisi, who would clear the drivers.
Before Majoni was arrested, Hofisi had called to warn him about the impending arrest.