 |
| Nyathi |
TWO police officers stationed at Entumbane Police Station
have been arrested for allegedly stealing two gas tanks and several cellphones
which were part of the goods looted during the recent violent protests in
Bulawayo.
Thulani Nyathi (33) of Lobengula West and Victor Peter
Munondo (28) of Entumbane suburb yesterday appeared before Bulawayo magistrate
Ms Sithembiso Ncube facing theft charges. They were remanded in custody to
today for bail ruling.
Allegations are that a report was made at Entumbane Police
Station indicating that there were looted goods that had been hidden in a
broken down car at Entumbane Bus Terminus.
Two police officers who were initially sent to investigate
came back empty handed.
Nyathi and Munondo then allegedly went to the Bus Terminus
and arm-twisted a security guard manning the premises into showing them where
the goods were hidden under the pretext that they were sent by their superiors
to recover the loot.
They then took the looted goods, but did not surrender the
loot at Entumbane Police Station.
Prosecuting, Mr Alfonce Makonese said on January 25 at
around 8AM, police received a tip off that stolen goods looted during protests
were hidden in a broken down vehicle at a car park at Entumbane Bus Terminus.
The Entumbane Police Station Officer-in-Charge, only
identified as Chief Inspector Mpofu, then assigned his juniors to investigate.
“On January 26 at around 10AM, one Assistant Inspector
Nkomo and a Constable Mavunga proceeded to Entumbane Bus Terminus. Upon arrival
they failed to locate anyone and returned empty handed,” said Mr Makonese.
On the same day at around 6PM, Nyathi and Munondo went to
Entumbane Bus Terminus and found a security guard manning the parking area.
“On arrival at Entumbane Bus Terminus’ car park, the
accused persons introduced themselves to the security guard as Detective
Constables Maveya and Moyo.
They lied to him that they had been sent by their superiors
to collect the stolen goods. They searched a broken down vehicle at the car
park and recovered two 5kg gas tanks, eight cellphones and six bottles of
battery water,” said Mr Makonese.
They then endorsed their falsified names in the car park
occurrence book on entry number 68/29.
The two allegedly lied to the security guard that they were
taking the loot to Entumbane Police Station.
The court heard that the two cops did not surrender the
stolen goods at the police station.
“On the same day at around 10PM, Assistant Inspector Nkomo
later sent Constables Ndava and Chakabveyo to revisit the bus terminus and they
found the same security guard who showed them the occurrence book depicting
that goods had already been collected by the accused persons,” said Mr
Makonese.
Investigations were conducted and the security guard
managed to positively identify the accused persons in a parade leading to their
arrest and subsequent recovery of the stolen loot.
Nyathi and Munondo, who are both self-actors, yesterday
applied for bail pending trial. They argued that if granted bail they would not
abscond, saying they were family men of fixed abode.
The State opposed bail, saying there was no guarantee that
if granted bail the two men would not abscond. The investigating officer, Det
Asst Insp Thomas Zimunhu, said the accused persons’ arrest was linked to the
violent protests as they were found in possession of stolen goods hence if
granted bail they were likely to abscond.
“It is in the interest of justice that accused persons
should be remanded in custody until investigations are complete. If released on
bail, there are fears that they might interfere with State witnesses, some of
which are fellow police officers,” he said.
Det Asst Insp Zimunhu said the suspect who looted the
stolen items is on the run and also known to Nyathi. Chronicle
0 comments:
Post a Comment