Three Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison wardens were
yesterday sentenced to 13 months in jail each for assaulting an inmate and
breaking his leg after he picked and pocketed a $1 note while on office
cleaning duty.
Taona Nyoni (32), Norman Chari (38) and Marshal Nyandowe
(30) will each serve seven months effective jail time after Harare magistrate
Sharon Rakafa conditionally suspended six months.
The complainant is Masiiwa Vhitorini, who is serving a jail
term for rape. Rakafa acquitted Godweu Njeku (47), who was being charged
together with the three, for lack of evidence.
The State managed to prove a prima facie case against the
three officers after witnesses corroborated events that led to the complainant
breaking his leg, the magistrate said.
The court heard that on March 13 last year at around 8am,
Vhitorini was cleaning offices under the supervision of Njeku and during that
process, he picked a bond coin and put it in his pocket.
Njeku noticed that Vhitorini had picked something and
ordered him to surrender it. Vhitorini then gave Njeku the dollar and the
officer allegedly started slapping him demanding that he hands over all the
money he had picked.
Nyoni, Chari and Nyandowe then joined in the assault. Nyoni
then struck the prisoner on the left leg several times with his service rifle.
Newsday
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