The Sunday News
Gwanda Correspondent
A POLICE officer has appeared in court for allegedly stealing a cellphone from his colleague at the charge office. Gwanda magistrate Mr Arafat Kozanai on Friday heard that Emmanuel Ndaba (31), who was a police officer at Gwanda Police Station during the commission of the offence, took a cellphone belonging to another police officer, Kudzai Chikweru (24), from the charge office counter and kept it.
Ndaba denied theft charges but admitted that he took the phone saying his intention was to find its owner.
“I did not steal the phone but I admit that I took it. What I am only denying is the theft charge you are laying against me,” he said.
Ndaba who preferred to use the English language in court kept asking the magistrate and prosecutor if they were recording what he was saying in court.
He would also avoid answering some of the prosecutor’s questions demanding that he uses simple English.
In some instances, Ndaba would instead respond by asking questions, which ended up irritating prosecutor Mr Edward Ndlovu.
“I am not here to answer your questions but I am here to pose questions to you,” said Mr Ndlovu.
Allegations are that on 14 June last year at around 8am, the complainant Chikweru reported for duty at the charge office and was in possession of his two mobile phones, a Nokia and a Samsung.
“At around 10.15am, the complainant checked for his Samsung phone from the charge office counter where he had left it only to discover that the cellphone had been stolen,” the court heard.
Chikweru used a mobile tracker and found it with one Odrick Moyo who then revealed that he had bought the phone for $30 from Ndaba.
The matter was reported to the police and investigations led to Ndaba’s arrest.
Ndaba was remanded in custody to tomorrow for judgment.
