A TRAFFIC cop appeared in court yesterday for soliciting a $30 bribe from commuter omnibus operators plying the Chiremba Road route.
Rangarirai Chigome (42) allegedly demanded $30 from each commuter omnibus driver to allow them a seven-day unintterupted passage. He is charged with criminal abuse of office as a public officer.
Chigome was granted $100 bail and remanded to May 9. He was warned against interferring with witnesses.
The State withdrew charges against five other traffic cops who were facing similar allegations. These are John Shereni, Walter Makahamadze, Wonder Zvirevo, Conec Tembo and Ezekiel Nyungu.
Prosecuting, Ms Dora Moyo alleged that on April 14 at around 8pm Police Internal Investigations received a tip-off that Highway Patrol cops deployed along Chiremba Road were demanding bribes from commuter omnibuses.
It was alleged the officers demanded $30 from commuter omnibus operators to allow them uninterrupted passage for seven days. Those who did not comply with the bribe would be arrested for various traffic offences, the court heard.
A trap was set the following day at around 2pm. It is alleged that Chigome was approached by Emmanuel Mapiye and Inspector Wilson Chiwanda posing as commuter omnibus drivers.
Mapiye allegedly negotiated $30 for free passage of his commuter omnibus for a week.
Chigome agreed and was given $30 trap money by Mapiye.
It is alleged that Chigome endorsed the registration number of Mapiye’s commuter omnibus ABZ 6331 at the back of the Z69(j) book before releasing him.
Chigome was immediately arrested.