The trial of Mbare Officer-in-charge of traffic, Chief Inspector Violet Sigauke (55), who was arrested for demanding $60 per week from commuter omnibus operators, failed to start yesterday after her lawyer, Mr Admire Rubaya, fell ill. Sigauke is facing criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.
On her initial remand, Sigauke told the court that four male colleagues who arrested her indecently touched her during a body search. The complainant in the matter is a police officer, Thomas Mabgwe, who is stationed at Police General Headquarters (PGHQ) in Harare. The court heard that in January this year, Sigauke phoned Kudzai Mapako, who is employed by Mama Ru commuter omnibus company as a manager. It is alleged she ordered him to pay $120 for free passage of his commuter omnibuses for two weeks in her policing jurisdiction.
The court heard that Mapako met Sigauke at a bank in Graniteside in Harare and paid $40 as part of the bribe money. It is alleged Sigauke told Mapako the money was too little and that he was to pay $60 per week and on February 8, Sigauke phoned Mapako demanding the money. Mapako contacted his friend, Reuben Chimanja, and asked him to pay the money on his behalf since he was out of Harare. At around 3pm the same day, Chimanja went to PGHQ and reported that Sigauke was demanding a bribe from his friend. A trap was set leading to Sigauke’s arrest.
More: Herald
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