By Patience Gondo
A 33-year-old cross-border transporter (malayitsha) has been sentenced to community service for assaulting an immigration officer and unlawfully entering restricted border premises without documentation.
Moses Furusa appeared before the Beitbridge Magistrate Brenda Kachepa to answer the two charges.
It is understood Furusa became violent when he was confronted by immigration officials and bit one of the officers on the wrist resisting arrest.
In his defence, Furusa claimed he was in pain due to tight handcuffs and only reacted by trying to get the officer to adjust them.
However, the magistrate dismissed the argument, stating that the discomfort would not have occurred if he had complied with the arrest from the beginning.
“You cannot use that as a defence. “If you had complied with the officer, there would have been no need to restrain you.” Kachema said.
The court convicted him on both counts and sentenced him to perform four months community service at Beitbridge Regional Court.
Olivia Chamutiya prosecuted.