A POLICE officer has been arraigned before the courts for allegedly stealing a firearm at a police station in Gutu, Masvingo province, in 2005.
John Chitsaka appeared before Harare magistrate Ethel Chichera facing theft charges.
He was granted US$100 bail and remanded to June 20 for provision of a trial date.It is the State’s case that between September 13 and December, 2005, Chatsika was stationed at Gutu police station where he allegedly stole the gun from his employer.
Prosecutor Sithembiso Moto alleged that Chitsaka stole a P1 BSAP type of firearm, which was subject to hand-over and take-over at the station.
The court heard that on April 26, 2024, police officers in the Victim Friendly Unit (VFU) received information from Chitsaka's wife that the suspect was in possession of an unlicensed firearm, which he had ostensibly used to threaten her.
It is alleged that police went to Chatsika’s house at Msasa camp in Harare where they located his wife and conducted a house search during which they recovered the firearm.
“Checks were made with the records and it was noted that the firearm was stolen at Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Gutu during the period the accused was stationed there,” the court heard.
- Police officer up for gun theft
