A former top cop has been ordered to perform 315 hours of community service by a magistrate after he drove without permission and crashed a Mazda BT50 truck, which was being held as an exhibit in a criminal case.
The car had been impounded while being smuggled into the country through Nyamapanda Border Post in 2020.
The former Commanding CID Vehicle Theft Squad (VTS) at Southerton Police Station in Harare, Chief Superintendent Kirispen Mutsengi, was convicted and sentenced by Harare regional magistrate Learnmore Mapiye.
Mapiye had initially sentenced Mutsengi to 15 months in prison before conditionally setting aside six months.
The remaining nine months were wholly suspended on the condition that Mutsengi performs 315 hours of community service.
The vehicle which Mutsengo wrecked belonged to a South African national, Domian-Lee Kockolt, who was robbed at gunpoint in Durban, South Africa.
The vehicle had been recovered the car at Nyamapanda Border Post on 14 January 2020 by detectives at CID Vehicle Theft Squad, Southerton after it was suspected to have been stolen from a Mozambican national, who was crossing into Zimbabwe.
The vehicle was then taken to CID Vehicle Theft Squad, Southerton where it was secured under exhibit number 11/20 and enquiry report number 04/20.
On 14 February 2020, at around 5:30 AM, Mutsengi who was driving the vehicle was involved in an accident at corner Glenara and Samora Machel Avenue, Harare leaving the vehicle extensively damaged.
The vehicle was recovered by the police at a private garage at the corner of Main and Soutter roads, New Ardbennie, Harare where it was being repaired.
More: The Herald