HARARE - A Harare magistrate has jailed four cops for 30 months each after convicting them for extorting $70 from an Epworth man.
Tendai Saungweme, 47, Canaan Chuzu, 51, Nyasha Chowa, 48 and Chimbo Mushahama, 45, were all found guilty of extortion by Harare magistrate Arnold Maburo.
The four were jointly charged with a civilian Norman Nyarongwe, who also faced a further charge of impersonating a police officer.
Maburo sentenced the five to 30 months in prison, before suspending five months on condition of good behaviour within three years of their release.
A further five months were set aside on condition the group pays back the $70 to the complainant, Richard Murehwa.
Nyarongwe was also sentenced to 30 months in prison for the charge of impersonating a police officer, 10 months of which were set aside on condition of good behaviour.
The other group members were freed on bail, while Nyarongwe and Saungweme are now before the High Court applying for bail pending appeal.
The matter, however, could not be heard before the High Court yesterday; after it emerged that it was not on the motion roll.
Circumstances leading to the group’s arrest are that they approached Murehwa at night, while he was at his Epworth home in May this year.
They accused him of assaulting Unice Majombo in Marondera in 2012.
The cops were in uniform, while Nyarongwe, was in civilian attire and pretended to be a police officer.
Nyarongwe, according to State papers, told Murehwa that he was under arrest for assaulting Majombo, before Saungweme handcuffed him.
Prosecutor Editor Mavuto told the court that Nyarongwe threatened Murehwa with jail, before demanding $150 from him in order to let him go.
The court heard that Murehwa’s wife managed to get $70, which he handed over to Nyarongwe.
The following day, the court heard, Nyarongwe phoned Murehwa demanding $30, which he said should be sent through the EcoCash mobile transfer service.
Murehwa sought advice from a local councillor, who assisted in Nyarongwe’s arrest after establishing that he was not a police officer.