The Sunday News
Tatenda Gapare Sunday News Reporter
A NKULUMANE police officer has been jailed for stealing varying amounts of money that was collected as deposits at roadblocks under the pretext that the money was fake.
In the first case, Abel Moyo (38) from Entumbane suburb, converted to his own use $210, P400 and R200. Some of the money was recovered under a rock in a bush at the roadblock site along Plumtree road. $100, P400 and R100 was found in the police officer’s wallet hidden in the bush. Moyo, who holds the rank of a sergeant appeared before the Provincial senior magistrate in charge of West commonage Mr Tawanda Muchemwa and was facing charges of theft. He pleaded guilty.
He was sentenced to four months imprisonment wholly suspended on condition that he gives the complainant a sum of $110 and R100 through the clerk of court at West Commonage magistrate court on or before 29 February 2016.
Prosecuting, Mr Tony Kamudyariwa said on 8 January to 12 January 2016 Moyo was deployed to do roadblock duties along Plumtree road.
“During the four days Moyo used to collect cash from the roadblock site and was pretending to bank the money at ZRP Tshabalala. Fanuel Basira, officer in charge at Tshabalala police station discovered that there was cash missing when he was doing his routine duties.
“On 18 January 2016 at around 6am, Basira noticed that Z69J book number 70/15 was not being banked. He then made further investigations and discovered that Moyo was handed over $120 which he never banked at the station,” he said.
The court heard that on 13 January 2016, Moyo made a false entry in the Z69J book indicating that he handed over $55 and P200 to Constable Muchenga. Enquiries were made and it was discovered that Muchenga was never deployed on roadblock duties.
“$100, P400 and R100 was recovered in the bush on 19 January. The money was found in Moyo’s wallet. In another case, Moyo appeared in the same court facing charges of stealing another $80 deposit fine, pretending to bank it and converting it to his personal use. He pleaded guilty.
He was sentenced to six months imprisonment of which four months were suspended for five years on condition that he does not within that period commit any offence involving dishonesty. Two months were also suspended on condition that he pays the complainant $80 by 15 February.
