Violet Sigauke (55), the officer in charge of Mbare Police Station, who was recently arrested for soliciting for a $60 bribe from a motorist, is reported to have demanded $60 per week from transport operators. This unofficial “toll” allowed all the vehicles belonging to the transport operator to pass through police roadblocks in her area with minimum harrassment. These allegations were made gainst Sigauke at the Magistrate’s Court.
She appeared in court on Friday facing charges of criminal abuse of duty as a public officer. Harare magistrate Mr Lazini Ncube granted her $100 bail and remanded her to the 27th of February for trial. He also ordered her to surrender her passport and to reside at her given address.
However, Sigauke had complaints to make against her fellow police officers. Through her lawyer, Mr Ashiel Mugiya, Sigauke told the magistrate that the four male police officers who had arrested her, had also indecently assaulted her during a full body search.
Said Mugiya:
She was subjected to bodily search with no resemblance to dignity. I will not go into detail of the body parts she was violated. She was traumatised by the conduct.
More: Herald
Back to top