Man (40) plays cop to ‘rape’

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Codelia Mondela, Court Reporter
A MAN from Bulawayo who allegedly raped two women and robbed three men of their cellphones after threatening to arrest them while clad in a police uniform, has appeared in court using a different surname from the one he used in his initial appearance.

Cosmas Sibanda (40) impersonated a police officer and allegedly waylaid couples walking near a bushy area in Nketa 8.

Sibanda would order the men to go to their homes and collect their national identity cards while he remained with the women.

He would allegedly rape the women or insert his fingers into their privates. He would then take nude pictures of them. Sibanda initially appeared on October 23 before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Franklin Mkhwananzi but his surname was listed as Masuku in court records.  He was not asked to plead to two counts of rape, three counts of extortion and an aggravated indecent assault charges before regional magistrate Mr Chrispen Mberewere last week.

Mr Mberewere remanded him in custody to this Thursday for trial.

Prosecuting, Mr Simbarashe Manyiwa said Sibanda committed the crimes between July and September this year.

In July, Sibanda allegedly stole a phone from Mr Zibusiso Moyo and indecently assaulted his girlfriend after threatening to arrest them.

“On July 14 at around 7PM, the complainant was with his girlfriend. When they reached a bushy area near Latter Day Saints church, they met the accused wearing a police uniform.

“He asked them why they were using a dusty area in the dark before asking for their national registration cards, which they did not have. He cuffed them,” said Mr Manyiwa.

The prosecutor said Sibanda asked for Mr Moyo’s phone and ordered him to go to his home and collect his ID. In Mr Moyo’s absence, Sibanda inserted his finger in the woman’s privates and took pictures of her naked, threatening to publish them if she revealed the ordeal to anyone.

Mr Manyiwa said Sibanda used the same tactic to rape a woman in the same month.

He stole a phone and $6 from Mr Talent Vinyu and raped his girlfriend in his absence.

“When Talent left to collect his ID, the accused led the complainant to a bushy area near Phekhiwe River in Nketa 8, where he instructed her to remove her clothes. He raped her and took pictures of her naked,” said the prosecutor.

Sibanda also stole a phone and $20 from Mr Tedius Ncube who was with his girlfriend in September.

Mr Manyiwa said Sibanda ordered the two to accompany him to the police station and along the way he allegedly took Mr Ncube’s phone and money.

“He instructed him to go home while he took his girlfriend to the police station. When they got to a bushy area Sibanda raped the woman,” said the prosecutor. — @MondelaC

 

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