BULAWAYO acting regional prosecutor-in-charge Vincent Shava was yesterday sentenced to an effective three years in jail for criminal abuse of office as a public officer.

Shava was arrested after Vincent Ndlovu who was facing rape charges, claimed that the prosecutor solicited a $400 bribe from him to decline prosecution.

The top prosecutor had pleaded not guilty saying Ndlovu laid the charges to fix him as he stood as a stumbling block to the withdrawal of the rape case.

Passing judgment yesterday, Harare regional magistrate Clever Tsikwa, who presided over the matter, convicted Shava and sentenced him to an effective three years in jail.

“The court declined the defence counsel’s application for discharge as the State had established a prima facie case against Shava. That ruling meant there were certain issues that needed to be explained which Shava proved to be facts when he exercised his right to silence,” said magistrate Tsikwa.

“He’s therefore sentenced to five years imprisonment of which two years are suspended for five on condition of good behaviour. He will effectively serve three years.”

Ndlovu was arrested for rape on February 2 last year.

He appeared in court and was remanded in custody at Khami Prison to April 5.

Ndlovu was later released on bail pending trial and ordered to report every fortnight at Bulawayo Central Police Station.

The court heard that on November 2 last year, Shava phoned Ndlovu and told him to come to his office at Tredgold Building and he complied. He then asked for $400 from the man so that he could destroy the docket.

Ndlovu promised to pay the amount in instalments of $200 each. On November 9, he went to Shava’s office where he paid $100 and promised to pay the remainder by December 2.

On December 2, the court heard, Ndlovu reported the matter to Hillside Police Station and a trap was organised.
Source: chronicle