Fines for bribe takers caught on CCTV

TWO immigration officers who were recently arrested after they were caught on Closed-circuit Television (CCTV) taking bribes from travellers have each been fined $200 by a Beitbridge magistrate.

Precious Ndomupei Dumbu and Tinashe Gotosa denied charges of criminal abuse of office when they appeared before Ms Gloria Takundwa but she convicted them due to overwhelming evidence against them.

Dumbu and Gotosa were represented by Mr Reason Mutimba of Nyikadzino legal practice.

Prosecuting, Mr Lloyd Mupfungidza said the duo were on duty on August 4 at Beitbridge border post when they were caught on camera by security personnel taking R300 from two travellers.

The two were picked up by police detectives soon after collecting the bribe, but the money and the passports were not recovered.

The close circuit cameras are part of a raft of security upgrades at the border as Government moves to reduce incidents of corruption and smuggling at the country’s ports of entry.

Recently, Government secured $600 000 which has been used to among others buy border patrol vehicles, lie detectors, mineral and metal detectors as well as patrol motor bikes and secret cameras.

Part of the money is for repairing the border perimeter fence which was vandalised by criminals.

Since the introduction of CCTVs, eight people including the two immigration officers and six police details have been arrested.

Recently, the Department of Immigration redeployed 157 officers from ports of entry countrywide as part of measures to curb corruption within its rank and file.

Among those transferred were 26 officers from Beitbridge border post.