FIVE police officers appeared before Harare regional magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa yesterday on allegations of demanding a US$5 bribe from sand poachers.
Dennis Chivaku (37), Freeman Muninipi (32), Givemore Mucheka (39), Sharon Madondo (33) and Getrude Ndenga (32) were remanded out of custody to September 5 to allow for further investigations.
They were being represented by Taurai Chirinda.
The accused persons were all attached to Harare East DHQ Operation code named No To Illegal Sand Poaching.
Prosecutor Anesu Chirenje told the court sometime last month, an informant reported to Police General Headquarters internal investigations that some ZRP officers in the Ruwa were demanding bribes from sand poachers.
On Monday, police set a trap, resulting in the arrest of the five in Ruwa as they demanded “US$5 passage fee” from the informant.
