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Court Correspondent
A TRUCK driver who assaulted a police officer after being arrested while fleeing a Vehicle Inspection Department weighbridge along Samora Machel Avenue appeared in court last week.15

Mandlaenkosi Dube (26) was carrying smuggled goods valued at $131 200.

He was charged with contravening the Customs and Excise Act when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe.

He was denied bail and will be back in court on June 27.

Allegations are that on May 31 Dube was tasked by his employer to use his refrigerated truck to carry perishables, including fruits.

The court heard that Dube proceeded with the truck to Mutare where he was hired to carry smuggled goods comprising 296 sealed bales of second-hand clothes and 32 containing second-hand shoes to Harare.

It is alleged that while on his way, Dube was stopped along Samora Machel Avenue East at a police checkpoint. He was directed to proceed to a VID weighbridge prompting him to speed off.

The court heard that Dube drove against oncoming traffic while a VID vehicle gave chase. It is the State’s case that they tried to stop him and drove to his front but he accelerated and went on to hit the VID vehicle on the left side causing extensive damage and injuries to the occupants.

It is alleged that after realising that he could no longer proceed, he jumped from the vehicle and ran away.

Police officers gave chase and apprehended him.

The court heard that upon being apprehended, Dube started assaulting the police officer and his accomplices arrived at the scene and assisted him to escape.

Police officers then searched the truck and found the smuggled second-hand clothes and shoes.

Investigations were conducted and the truck owner was located who then assisted the police to arrest Dube.