Officers Demand Bribe from CIO Impersonator
Thandeka was arrested last week for impersonation after allegedly claiming to be an operative of the CIO.
Officers Demand Bribe from CIO Impersonator
Two police officers from Chinhoyi are in trouble after they allegedly demanded a bribe from a radio presenter facing impersonation charges.
Rise in Number Police Impersonators
Drawn by the seeming opulence of Platinum FM part-time presenter Thandeka Chitombo (30) and her desperate circumstances, the two arresting officers decided to play good Samaritan.
For a price of course!
They allegedly demanded US$100 to facilitate the granting of bail for Thandeka.
The presenter was arrested last week for impersonation after allegedly claiming to be an operative of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO).
During investigations, the two, Constables Theoline Mapako (35) and Gracious Hove (33) allegedly painted a grim picture of the fate that awaited Thandeka if she did not pay a bribe so that they do not oppose bail when she goes to court.
Thandeka is said to have indicated that she only had US$32 which was held for safekeeping at the charge office when she was arrested.
The police officers allegedly told Thandeka that her father Luxmore Chitombo had indicated that she would pay another US$50.
Officers Demand Bribe from CIO Impersonator
It is alleged that the two then took Thandeka to the Charge Office where she collected her belongings including cash before heading for court.
It is alleged that she received US$50 from her father before the police officers took Thandeka to the toilet at the station where she handed them US$80.
The officers escorted her to the Chinhoyi Magistrates Courts. She was, however, remanded in custody at Chinhoyi Prison leading her to expose the alleged “deal”.
This led to the arrest of Hove and Mapako on Wednesday for criminal abuse of office as defined in Section 174 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.
For Thandeka, the deal did not bring good fortune as she was remanded in custody on February 13, 2024.
Instead, the two officers who were represented by lawyer Mr Fortune Murisi were granted bail when they appeared before a Chinhoyi magistrate on Thursday.
Thandeka managed to weave her way into broadcasting at Platinum FM, a provincial radio station under the Zimpapers stable, using the name Ndeka T, sometime in October 2023.
After a training stint, she landed the Sunday Chill Out slot, broadcast from 3 to 6 pm on Sundays as a volunteer.
The arrangement was consummated with the station manager Mr Davies Mugadza.
