The lure of dirty money could have landed two Chinhoyi police officers in trouble after they demanded a bribe from a radio presenter facing impersonation charges.
Because of the apparent extravagance of part-time Platinum FM presenter Thandeka Chitumbo (30) and her desperate circumstances, the two arresting officers decided to play good Samaritan.
For a price, of course!
They allegedly demanded US$100 to facilitate the granting of bail to Thandeka.
The broadcaster was arrested last week on impersonation charges after claiming to be a Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) agent.
During investigations, police officers Thulin Mbako (35) and Gracius Hoff (33) allegedly painted a bleak picture of the fate awaiting Thandeka if she did not pay a bribe so that they would not oppose bail when she went to court.
Thandeka is said to have indicated that she only had US$32 kept at the charging office when she was arrested.
Police officers allegedly told Thandeka that her father, Luxmore Chitumbo, had indicated to her that she would pay another US$50.
The two allegedly took Thandeka to the responsible office where she collected her belongings including cash before heading to court.
She allegedly received US$50 from her father before police officers took Thandeka to the toilet at the station where she handed them US$80.
The officers took her to the Chinhoyi Magistrates Courts. However, she was remanded in Chinhoyi Prison which prompted her to reveal the alleged “deal”.
This led to the arrest of Hof and Mbako on Wednesday on charges of criminal abuse of office as defined under Section 174 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.
For Thandeka, the deal did not bring good luck as she was remanded in custody on February 13, 2024.
Instead, the two officers represented by lawyer Mr Fortune Morrissey were released on bail when they appeared before Chinhoyi Magistrate on Thursday.
Thandeka managed to make her way onto airplay at Platinum FM, a regional radio station affiliated with Zimpapers Stable, using the name Ndeka T, sometime in October 2023.
After an internship, she landed the Sunday Chill Out programme, which airs from 3-6pm on Sundays, as a volunteer.
The arrangement was finalized with the station manager, Mr. Davies Mugadza.
On one occasion in November, Thandeka presented the station manager, Mr. Mugadza, with an identification card showing that it was from the Office of the President, and claimed that she had been sent on assignment at the radio station.
Mr. Mugadza contacted the President’s Office in an attempt to verify her claims.
Background checks were conducted that dispelled her claims.
The situation was conveyed to the station manager, Mr Mugadza, who is now the complainant in the matter.
She was later arrested for impersonation and investigations led to the discovery of the fake CIO ID card.
Further investigations at Thandeka’s residence in Ruvimbu Phase 1, Chinhoyi, led to the recovery of two fake Zanu PF party cards indicating that she was a member of the party’s central committee.
The cards showed that she was a member of the party’s highest decision-making body between Congress and the central committee in the Mashonaland Central and Western provinces.
Thandeka appeared before Chinhiwe Magistrate Mr Archie Wuchionga on Thursday who suspended the bail ruling until February 13.
She burst into tears when her bail ruling was postponed. With a frown, she picked up her hat and placed it on her head before starting to cry.
The postponement was unexpected, as it extended the time she spent in custody, a development that went to the bone.
This came as a relief to the police officers who seemed relaxed and cheerful despite the difficult situation they were facing. Announce
