US$300 Fine For Female Cop Who Locked Colleagues Inside Shebeen

A Bulawayo-based police officer who locked her colleagues inside her shebeen to stop them from confiscating alcohol has been fined US$300. The booze was allegedly being sold illegally at the city-centre spot.

Modester Nyambe, 31, who was attached to the Provincial Reaction Group, appeared before Bulawayo provincial magistrate Isheunesu Mathoba for sentencing on a charge of obstructing or defeating the course of justice. She was represented by her lawyer, Toboka Nyathi.

The magistrate ordered her to pay a US$300 fine by 28 February or face six months in prison. Said Mathoba:

“The offender obstructed the course of justice when she prevented police officers who wanted to confiscate alcohol from her shebeen.

“She abused her office as she blocked officers who were carrying out their official duties.

“The moral blameworthiness is high because, as an officer, she was supposed to comply, but she did the opposite and locked them inside.”

During cross-examination, the complainant, Assistant Inspector Lloyd Mazura, said he and his colleagues arrived at the shebeen, situated in a city-centre building. He said:

“We received a tip-off that there was a shebeen operating in the city. We headed there and found a man selling alcohol. He told us that he was not the owner.

“He said he was just an employee working for Nyambe. The man called Nyambe on her mobile phone, and she arrived quickly.

“She tried to reason with us to prevent us from confiscating the crates of alcohol, but we did not entertain her.”

He told the court that Nyambe prevented them from confiscating alcohol valued at US$5,000.

Asst Insp Mazura said Nyambe grabbed the keys, ran out of the room and locked them inside. He said:

“We had to call the officer-in-charge, who then dispatched a team to open the door for us.”

Principal prosecutor Milton Ncube told the court that on 30 December last year, shortly after 3 PM, Asst Insp Mazura and his colleagues arrived at the shebeen in the city centre. Said Ncube:

“They found a man named Dodsway Mutsungi selling alcohol. They demanded a licence, and he told them that he was not the owner of the shebeen. He informed them that it was owned by Nyambe.

“Mutsungi called Nyambe on her mobile phone, and she arrived quickly, wearing a police uniform. She tried to negotiate with the police officers so they would not arrest him, but they turned down her request.”

The accused then locked the gate, preventing them from seizing the alcohol as exhibits.

Ncube said Asst Insp Mazura then called his superiors, who brought in officers from the Support Unit, leading to Nyambe’s eventual surrender and arrest.

More: B-Metro