By Takudziridzwa Nyama
A 42-year-old police sergeant, Isaac Chakoma Machokoto, has been arrested on four counts of criminal abuse of office and convicted by the Chipinge Magistrate Court.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), Machokoto received reports from complainants and made arrests but allegedly released the suspects without formally charging them. Instead, he reportedly accepted various amounts of bribes from the suspects to facilitate their release.
In one instance, a complainant named Kudzai Ndima reported a case of assault against Joseph Peneti. Machokoto arrested Joseph Peneti and detained him at the police station. However, instead of compiling a full criminal docket, Machokoto allegedly collected USD 30 from the suspect and released him without official charges, violating his duties as a police officer.
In a separate incident, he is accused of receiving USD 50 from a suspected sexual offender alleged to have had sexual intercourse with a child.
Machokoto has been remanded out of custody and ordered to deposit USD 200 with the clerk of court.