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Mashudu Netsianda Senior Court Reporter
SIX Bulawayo police officers who allegedly assaulted an ex-cop who queried the arrest of his driver applied for discharge at the close of the State case yesterday.

Benjamin Marufu, Siliverius Muvazhi, Dominico Ingwani, Eniwell Tafa, Godknows Hove and Isheunesu Mabhiza, all stationed at Bulawayo Central Police Station, appeared before Magistrate Tawanda Muchemwa.

In their application for discharge, through their lawyer, Tungamirai Nyengera, the cops challenged the authenticity of the medical affidavit submitted as evidence in court, accusing the doctor of basing his conclusion on mere optical observations.

The victim, Retired Assistant Inspector Big Dube, who now runs a commuter omnibus business, alleged that the six officers detained and assaulted him at the Bulawayo Central Police Station after he queried why they had arrested his kombi driver at Egodini terminus in Bulawayo.

A medical report produced in court as evidence showed that Dube sustained a deep cut on the head, and swollen knees and hands from the alleged beatings on August 5 this year.

However, the six officers claimed that the medical report was simply based on what Dr Bothwell Magora of United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) saw on his patient, but no medical tests were conducted.

Nyengera also accused Dr Magora, who testified as a state witness, of compiling a half-baked medical report.

“I put it to you that this medical affidavit was a summary of what you assumed was the status of the patient from what he told you. No tests were done on the patient. Did you refer the victim for a scan?” asked the lawyer.

The magistrate also questioned why Dr Magora did not refer Dube for a scan.

“Was it not only proper for you as a doctor to refer Dube for a scan, especially for the knee injuries? Was it proper to make bare assumptions?” asked Muchemwa.

Dr Magora said he was only a casual doctor.

“I am a casual doctor, I only analyse the patient and then a specialist takes over,” he said.

Prosecuting, Busani Moyo said in August 5, the six officers were on duty at Egodini terminus when they arrested Dube’s driver, Tafadzwa Ngwenya, for touting and assaulting police officers.

When Dube confronted the cops demanding an explanation for his driver’s arrest, he was arrested and charged for obstructing police officers on duty.

The court heard that the police officers allegedly assaulted him on the forehead with handcuffs and also kicked him on his left knee and twisted his neck as they tried to arrest him.