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Court Reporter
THE trial of five detectives from Harare who are facing charges of demanding and accepting a $10,000 bribe from an elephant poaching syndicate opened in Bulawayo on Wednesday. The five are Detective Assistant Inspector Alois Gakata and his three subordinates, Detective Sergeant Wellington Jena, Detective Constables Shadreck Rore, Donald Dube and Chrispen Musonza.

The State invited the officer commanding police in Lupane District, Chief Superintendent Johannes Chinembiri Govo to testify.

He told the court that the accused persons allegedly received a bribe from Nduna Moyo, the owner of the vehicle they had impounded.

Moyo’s wife, Anna drove the vehicle, a Toyota Hilux to Harare as they intended to sell the ivory with Clever Khumalo and other members of the alleged syndicate.

Testifying, Chief Supt Govo said: “The accused are the ones who arrested Daniel Mpa and Khumalo. We were shocked when only Mpa appeared on the docket while Khumalo had been clandestinely released. That is an anomaly and indicates that the accused did not perform their duties well.”

He said although he could not prove that they received the money, he was convinced that Moyo bribed Gakata, Jena, Rore, Dube and Musonza to have his car released.

“I did not see them being given the money but I got the information from witnesses. Mpa was convicted of the offence but Khumalo was released under unclear circumstances,” said Chief Supt Govo during cross examination by defence lawyer Lison Ncube.

Anna Moyo allegedly sourced the $10,000 bribe money for Khumalo who had been arrested together with a Congolese national, Mpa.
Moyo and his wife of Romney Park were also invited to testify.

Moyo said he knew Jena, Rore and Musonza while his wife said she was introduced to detectives by her friend, Gina Mverecha.

Anna Moyo and Mverecha are key witnesses in another case where Khumalo is facing charges of possessing ivory together with Sipho Mafu of Tsholotsho.

The five detectives are in custody after being denied bail for being a flight risk.

It is alleged that on August 27, this year, Khumalo and Mpa were arrested after their car was found with 249kg of ivory at Rhodesville Shopping Centre in Harare.

Khumalo allegedly escaped and was later phoned by Det Asst Insp Gakata inviting him to a police station.

Instead Khumalo allegedly fled to Bulawayo where he sent Blessing Gumbo to phone Det Asst Insp Gakata who allegedly demanded $5,000 to clear him and the car.

Prosecuting Tinashe Dzipe said Anna Moyo allegedly gave Khumalo $3,000 which he gave to Gumbo who in turn handed it to Det Const Musonza in Harare.

It is alleged that Det Asst Insp Gakata demanded $7,000 more, saying the $3,000 was too little for them to share.

Sometime in September last year, Jena, Rore and Musonza allegedly drove to Bulawayo and arrested Khumalo and Moyo who later allegedly bribed them with the $7,000.

It is alleged that the detectives after releasing Khumalo, took Moyo to an identification parade in Harare so that Mpa would fail to recognise him.

The offence came to light when more members of the alleged syndicate were arrested.

Bulawayo regional magistrate Trinos Wutawashe postponed the matter to 11 Deccember.