Two detectives from Beitbridge yesterday were each fined $400 for demanding a $2,000 bribe from a suspected smuggler.
Macdonald Mbombi and Stanford Muzombi, allegedly intercepted Organizer Makuwe who was illegally transporting a truckload of unrefrigerated apples from South Africa to Zimbabwe. The police officers pounced on the truck soon after it had entered the country through Beitbridge border post. The detectives both pleaded not guilty to criminal abuse of office. Beitbridge resident magistrate, Gloria Takundwa how ever convicted due to the sufficient evidence provided.
She fined them $400 each.

She further gave them three months in jail, which she suspended on condition that they pay $1,300 to Makuwe. The prosecutor, Jabulani Mberesi, told the court that on June 22 last year, the detectives received a tipoff that there was a truck carrying smuggled apples.
Following the tipoff, they found the truck at Redan Service Station and arrested Makuwe.
The court heard they arrested Makuwe and demanded $2,000 to release the truck. After negotiations the detectives settled for $1,300, which Makuwe transferred to their cell phones via Econet’s EcoCash service. Soon after he ttransfered the money, Makuwe reported the matter to the police and two the detectives were arrest.