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Lovemore Meya Court Correspondent
Four traffic police officers at Chitungwiza Central Police Station who were accused of soliciting for bribes from motorists at a roadblock were yesterday acquitted after it emerged that the money found in their possession belonged to one of them.

Constable Nomatter Tapfumanei (43) of Glen View 8, Harare, Constables John Hamutoni (35), Lidia Manyanga (25) and Tafadzwa Duri (25) all of Chitungwiza Camp were arrested along Harare-Hwedza Road by Marondera CID officers.

After their arrest, they were found with $82. They were acquitted after denying charges of criminal abuse of duty as public officials before Marondera magistrate Ms Josephine Sande.

This was after the State, led by Ms Tariro Shirichena, withdrew the charges for lack of evidence.

The move was prompted by the quartet’s defence through their lawyer Mr Phillip Hamunakwadi of Mugiya and Macharaga Law Chambers to Ms Shirichena.

Mr Hamunakwadi said the exhibit ($82) recovered from Cst Tapfumaneyi had been handed to her by a relative at the roadblock after her daughter was admitted at a hospital.

This led to Ms Sande to subsequently discharge them.

Circumstances were that the four were enforcing traffic orders along Harare-Hwedza Road on November 20 at around 9am where they were accused of demanding bribes from motorists.