A captain from the Zimbabwe National Army’s 3 Brigade and three policemen based in Mutare have been arrested for allegedly robbing a Chinese national of US$60,000 and committing criminal abuse of office.
The victim, Yao Jingjie, sustained fractured limbs during the attack.
The individuals involved have been identified as Nyasha Foster, the army captain, Albert Machona (42), a police sergeant, and constables Charles Musiiwa (33) and Tanyaradzwa Mhondiwa (30), all stationed at Mutare Central Police Station.
The incident is being investigated under ZRP Mutare Central CR 306/02/24 and 01/03/24 CID Mutare DRs 11-12/03/24.
According to the memo titled “Arrest of Members of the Uniformed Forces [ZNA and ZRP] for Robbery and Criminal Abuse of Office”, “On February 28, 2024 at around 7pm, the complainant, a Chinese national, arrived home from a business trip in Harare in the company of Kalim Mukwamba, the company driver. She was in possession of US$60 000 in US$20 denominations packed in a black satchel. They hired a taxi to Morningside and the complainant was dropped inside and the taxi left with Kalim Mukwamba,” read the memo.
“While the complainant was still outside the house, she was manhandled by accused one (Foster) who emerged from the flower garden, putting on a black mask, he assaulted the complainant on both arms using an unknown object and managed to snatch the satchel which was containing cash and jumped over the precast wall.”
Jingjie’s screams for help alerted a neighbor, Obert Musuka, who rushed to the scene.
Musuka and other residents pursued Foster, apprehended him, and retrieved the satchel.
They notified the police station, and without following procedure, Machona, Musiiwa, and Mhondiwa arrived at the scene, collected Foster and the bag of cash, claiming they were taking them to Mutare Central Police Station.
Reportedly, instead of detaining Foster and securing the bag as evidence, the three policemen released Foster and handed US$26,000 to Hou Jiefei, an acquaintance of Jingjie, on the same night, without explaining the discrepancy.
The three officers then obtained a statement from Foster before heading to Eland Hospital, where Jingjie was receiving treatment, to take a statement from the victim, all without informing their superiors or the Criminal Investigating Department.
Out of the US$60,000 stolen, only US$26,000 was recovered. It was later discovered that members of the public had apprehended Foster and handed him over to the accused police officers along with the recovered money.
Additionally, police recovered a black face mask and gloves from Foster.