GWERU Officer-in-Charge Criminal Investigation Department
(CID), Detective Inspector Leonard Gwandu who was recently arrested on
allegations of criminal abuse of office after he reportedly released a vehicle
suspected to have been stolen from South Africa without following due process
has been suspended indefinitely.
Insp Gwandu, who first appeared before Gweru magistrate
Tavengwa Sangster facing criminal abuse of duty charges as a public officer
will be back in court tomorrow. He is on $1000 bail.
The State alleged that Gwandu released a Toyota Hilux
Raider to businessman Mr Shepherd Tundiya without following due process.
The court heard that Mr Tundiya was arrested in October
after having been suspected of driving a stolen vehicle which did not have
registration numbers.
The vehicle was taken to CID Gweru where the accused is the
Officer-in-Charge. It is alleged that the accused and other junior police
officers checked the vehicle in the Interpol database which is installed in his
office.
The database showed that the vehicle might have been stolen
from Mr Thomas Blom in South Africa.
Mr Tundiya was subsequently charged with theft of motor
vehicle. However, Mr Tundiya was acquitted on 13 December but was not given an
order as to the disposal of the vehicle.
It was heard that the police had not initially handed over
the vehicle documents and information to the Clerk of Court to enable the court
to issue the order of disposition.
On 14 December, the court heard, the accused person
released the vehicle which the South African Police Service were coming to
identify.
Mr Tundiya has told the court that he bought the vehicle
from a car dealer Mr Patrick Mutodi in Harare. He said he was also a victim in
the event that the car was stolen. Sunday News
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