A POLICE officer allegedly kidnapped and brutally assaulted a 16-year-old boy who was suspected to have stolen a mobile cell phone at his uncle’s car wash premises to force him to admit he had taken the gadget.

Constable Munashe Shumba (30), who was the investigating officer in the case, allegedly went to the minor’s home with two of his co-accused persons, a Bulawayo City Council security guard Millister Shumba (43) and the owner of the phone Manfred Nhemachena (43).

The trio appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Ms Tancy Dube facing a charge of assault and they all pleaded not guilty.

They were remanded out of custody on free bail to Monday for continuation of trial.

Constable Shumba told the court that the three did not kidnap the boy but instead went to his home to take him to the police station for questioning and he tried to escape.

“He got out of the house and after telling him that we were taking him to the police station. He tried to escape and I ran after him while Shumba and Nhemachena followed us in a car.

“I finally caught him after he fell in an awkward way and then I discovered he had badly injured himself,” he said.

The prosecutor, Mr Tapiwa Solani said on April 24 at around midnight, the trio went to the minor’s home intending to take him to Western Commonage Police Station.

“Instead they drove the minor to a bushy area. Constable Shumba, who was driving, stopped the car and got out. The trio dragged the minor out of the car and forced him to take off his pants.

“They questioned the minor on the whereabouts of the phone but he told them he knew nothing. After a few questions, they assaulted the minor forcing him to admit that he had stolen the phone,” he said.State media