Top cop’s woes mount

Suspended Zimbabwe Republic Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Crispen Charumbira has been charged with defeating the course of justice after he allegedly ordered the release of an illegal gold dealer, who had been arrested by his subordinates.

Charumbira, who appeared before Harare magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti yesterday, was granted $10 000 bail and remanded to November 11 pending trial.

Allegations are that sometime in June 2019 detectives from the minerals unit arrested one David Mucheche in Mutare for contravening a section of the Gold Trade Act after he was found in possession of gold without a licence.

The detectives allegedly escorted Mucheche to Mutare Central Police Station and on arrival the detectives briefed their officer in charge Inspector Felix Machaka about the arrest.

It is alleged that while briefing Machaka one David Crobsy entered the office talking on the phone and he handed it to Machaka advising him that Charumbira wanted to talk to him.

Prosecutors alleged that Charumbira unlawfully directed Machaka to release Mucheche without confirmation of existence of a licence, recording the exhibit in any official book and without pressing any changes against him as well as not ordering the return of the gold to Mucheche.

It is alleged that Machaka complied with the order and the suspect was released.

Charumbira’s instructions were allegedly unlawful, according to the state.

The CID boss was arrested by the Special Anti-Corruption Unit (Sacu) last month after his subordinates alleged that he was interfering with their duties by protecting drug and gold dealers after accepting bribes.

One of the cases involves Crosby from Mutare, who is a suspected illegal gold dealer.

Charumbira’s subordinates claim that sometime in April last year he foiled a raid on Crosby after he was allegedly bribed.

Sacu said it was still investigating a number of other allegations against the top cop.