A policeman appeared in court yesterday charged with contravening the Parks and Wildlife Act after he was found in possession of pieces of ivory in his car.
Clarke Tota (26), who is stationed at Morris Depot Registry, was arrested as he attempted to sell the ivory to detectives posing as buyers.
He appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe charged with contravening the Parks and Wildlife Act. Tota was remanded in custody to July 9.
Mr Mahwe advised him to seek bail at the High Court.
Prosecutor Mrs Idah Mateke-Maromo alleged that on June 16 this year, police detectives received information that Tota was in possession of ivory and was looking for buyers.
The detectives contacted Tota and posed as buyers. Driving a Mercedes Benz, Tota met the detectives in Norton.
Tota allegedly suggested to the detectives that they go to his house to weigh the ivory.
The detectives recommended that they estimate the weight and value of the ivory. It is alleged Tota took a bag from his vehicle and produced ivory tasks wrapped in a blanket.
He was arrested as he handed over the ivory to the detectives.
Meanwhile, a police constable and a former assistant inspector appeared before the same court charged with theft of trust property. Allegations are that Edwin Zindonda (51) and Danny Chikonya (43), jointly charged with Petronella Malunga (45), who is attached at the Attorney-General’s office as an executive assistant, swindled home seekers of $6 650.
They were remanded to July 9 on $50 bail each. It is alleged that in November 2011, workers based at New Government Complex formed a housing co-operative.
They named it New Government Complex Housing Co-operative.
Zindonda was elected chairman and each member would pay monthly subscriptions to the treasurer, Douglas Chesa.
In the event that Chesa was not available, the members would pay their subscriptions to Malunga.
Between November 2012 to April last year, the trio allegedly hatched a plan to steal from the co-operative and acquired another receipt book. They used it to receipt payments made by members. They allegedly collected $6 650 which they pocketed.
An audit unearthed the scam.