HARARE – Five police officers were charged on Friday for allegedly extorted US$15,000 from a Harare man after lying that they had a case of sexual harassment against him.
Constables Lawson Muchongwe, 34, Perseverance Chisango, 31, Weston Muzorewa, 36, Prosper Chimbumu, 33, and Frederick Moyo, 36, were not asked to plead when they appeared before Harare magistrate Donald Ndirowei charged with criminal abuse of office.
They were released on US$50 bail each and will be back in court in November.
Prosecutors say the five requested to see their accuser after claiming that they were investigating sexual harassment allegations.
“The complainant sought the assistance of his lawyer to accompany him to meet the accused persons after they had agreed to meet at Newlands Shopping Centre,” according to the National Prosecuting Authority.
After some deliberations over the alleged sexual harassment allegations, the five demanded US$15,000 so that they would drop the charges.
On October 12, the target of the extortion reported the matter at Harare Central Police Station and detectives from CID Homicide set up a trap and arrested the police officers when they turned up to collect the cash.
Investigations revealed that there is no such case of sexual harassment being investigated by police against the 51-year-old man from Vainona in Harare.
