Three police officers stationed at the Braeside Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Harare reportedly demanded US$6 000 from a suspect they had arrested for illegally possessing 3 000 bottles of BronCleer cough syrup in exchange for her freedom.
The suspect failed to raise the amount they demanded and
gave them US$4 200. On top of the money, they allegedly took 100 bottles of
BroncoCleer, before releasing the suspect.
BronCleer, a cough syrup with high alcohol content and
containing the restricted codeine, is banned in Zimbabwe, but is popular with
drug-abusers. It is commonly known by its street name, “Bronco”.
Donald Dube (32), Charles Ndumo (35) and Innocent Madziya
(37) yesterday appeared before magistrate, Mrs Judith Taruvinga, facing charges
of criminal abuse of duty as public officers.
They were granted $3 000 bail each and remanded to January
11 next year for routine remand.
Prosecuting, Mr Lancelot Mutsokoti alleged that on October
8 at around 8pm, the three who were on duty, received information that there
was a truck loaded with “Bronco”.
Acting upon the information, they proceeded to a truck stop
along Bulawayo Road and found the truck. Philda Makumbe owned the goods, which
included 60 boxes of 50x100ml Bronco.
The three cops identified themselves and ordered that the
boxes be loaded into their car. They allegedly started demanding US$6 000 from
Makumbe so that they could release her together with the goods.
However, she said she did not have money. They then took
Makumbe and her brother to the police station where they allegedly continued
demanding a bribe.
Makumbe later gave in and ordered her brother to look for
the money and he brought US$4 200,
which was handed over to the trio.
On top of the money, it is alleged that they also took two
boxes of the cough syrup and returned the remaining 58 boxes to Makumbe and
released her.
Four days later, Makumbe reported the matter to the police
and upon getting wind of the report, the trio allegedly booked one box of the
syrup into their duty book.
Further, to cover up their offence, the trio rearrested
Makumbe on allegations of possessing one box of Bronco, which they had booked
and took her to Mbare court.
Investigations led to the arrest of the three. Herald
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