Cops brutalise ex-member

By Mpumelelo Nyoni

Six policemen allegedly severely assaulted a former police officer who now owns a fleet of commuter omnibuses when he tried to stop them from arresting a tout during an operation at “Egodini” bus terminus.

The retired officer, Big Dube, 48, who appeared in court yesterday claims that he was detained at Bulawayo Central Police Station and brutalised by the six officers.

Dube appeared before magistrate Sibongile Msipa facing charges of obstructing public officials executing their duties but his lawyers dismissed the case as an attempt by the officers to cover up for assaulting Dube while in police custody.

When Dube retired from the police force he was an Assistant Inspector. He is now a businessman and owns a fleet of commuter omnibuses.

Through his lawyer Sifisosethu Nkomo of R Ndlovu and Company, Dube alleged that he was severely assaulted on Tuesday.

Dube pleaded not guilty, but was granted free bail and remanded to August 21.

“Our client was severely assaulted while in police custody your worship. The charge he is facing is a mere attempt to cover up the assault he was subjected to by these police officers,” said Nkomo.

The lawyer also alleged that Dube was detained without any evidence pinning him to the alleged crime.

Prosecuting, Dennmore Kasenza told the court how the former policeman tried to stop officers from arresting a tout who was loading passengers illegally at Basch Street bus terminus, popularly known as “Egodini”.

“On August 5 at around 1PM at Egodini bus terminus, Sergeant Muvazhi, Sergeant Marufu, Constable Ingwani and Constable Tafa arrested Tafadzwa Ngwenya for touting.

Dube tried to stop them from arresting the tout thereby obstructing them from carrying out their duty,” said Kasenza.

He said Dube became violent when he was told to stop interfering and pulled Ngwenya away from the arresting officers leading to his arrest.

However, Nkomo, Dube’s lawyer, said the officers took him to Bulawayo Central Police Station where they were joined by two other policemen and then took turns to assault him.

“The four police officers took my client to the police station and along with Constable Hove and Constable Mabhiza assaulted him without any compelling circumstances or evidence,” said Nkomo.

Msipa questioned the absence of the police officers accused of assaulting Dube and ordered that the alleged assault be investigated by officers from a different police station.

“I want investigations on the alleged assault to be carried out by a different police station as I suspect there is an element of trying to protect each other,” said Msipa

She remanded the case to August 21. The Chronicle