BULAWAYO – A police detective has been arrested and charged with corruption after investigators found evidence that she was communicating with bank robbery suspects.

Detective Constable Sinikiwe Ndlovu, 38, allegedly received a Honda Fit vehicle from the suspects accused of stealing US$270,000 and R2.2 million from a Nedbank branch in Bulawayo on August 28.

Ndlovu, who works at CID Stores and Business at Bulawayo Central Police Station, appeared in court on Thursday charged with defeating or obstructing the course of justice.

She was arrested by CID Police Anti-Corruption Unit on Wednesday, September 20.

Ndlovu, according to prosecutors, was in communication before, during and after the robbery with at least two of the nine men suspected of robbing the bank at 61 Plumtree Road in Belmont.

The bank closed for the weekend on Saturday, August 26, and staff discovered the robbery on Monday, August 28. A back door had been vandalised and left wide open.

CID detectives following up leads arrested two suspects – Lovemore Gambiza, 45, of Emganwini and Elias Mudenda, 46, of Cowdray Park.

The two men implicated seven others who are still at large – Agrippa Mloyi of Nkulumane, Dingilizwe Mloyi, Nqobile Mloyi, Sipho Tshuma, a George, a SamaMo and Bhekani Mlilo.

On analysing the call histories of the suspects who are on the run, investigators discovered that Ndlovu had been in contact with Agrippa Mloyi and Mlilo.

Police also discovered that Agrippa Mloyi and Mlilo were convicted of robbery on April 5, 2016. They were released on bail pending appeal but their appeal was dismissed by the High Court on June 18, 2018.

The two men did not surrender themselves to the police to begin serving their sentences.

Investigators discovered that Ndlovu spoke to Mloyi at 9.03PM on August 24, and again on August 28 at 6.42PM.

It was also established that Ndlovu spoke with Mlilo on August 26 at 6.56PM; on August 28 at 10.57AM and again at 12.18PM on the same day.

Prosecutors say Ndlovu later received a Honda Fit vehicle from Agrippa Mloyi. She told investigators that she bought the vehicle, registered in the name of one Fadzai Mapako, for US$4,700 but she could not produce an agreement of sale.

Ndlovu allegedly told police she had known Mloyi for sometime, adding that they were once neighbours in Nketa suburb.