BULAWAYO - A Fort Rixon cop has been arraigned before the courts for allegedly soliciting for a bribe from a man who mistakenly took his luggage when he alighted from a vehicle they were travelling in.
Kudzai Muguneyi, 27, appeared before magistrate Sibongile Msipa facing two counts of assault and extortion.
Muguneyi, who is stationed at Fort Rixon Police Station, was not asked to plead. He was remanded out of custody to August 15 on $50 bail.
The complainant is Earnest Moyo of Wessels in Fort Rixon and is employed in Newton West suburb in Bulawayo as a gardener.
Magistrate Msipa heard that on July 26 around 7pm, the accused and the complainant met each other at Fort Rixon turn off along Bulawayo-Gweru road where they boarded a vehicle together to Fort Rixon.
The complainant reportedly dropped off at Highlands Bus Stop and mistakenly took the cop’s satchel and a bag containing groceries, the court heard.
When the accused disembarked at the next bus stop, he realised that his satchel and bag were missing.
After inquiring, the court heard that Muguneyi realised that Moyo was the one who had taken his belongings. He made a follow-up the following day.
It is alleged that the accused arrived at Moyo’s homestead where he handcuffed him and started slapping him, accusing him of stealing his goods.
On their way to the police station, the accused asked the complainant’s wife how much money she had so as to secure her husband’s release. The wife said she did not have any money.
The accused then turned to the complainant who then produced $20 but he refused to accept it saying it was too little. The complainant was then forced to add $5 on top.
As a result he was immediately set free.
Moyo made a police report the following day, leading to Muguneyi’s arrest.