HARARE - Two police officers who allegedly demanded a $10 bribe from a commuter omnibus driver have appeared in court.

Todzanisai Mavidza, 28, and Brave Kandikita, 25, allegedly demanded $10 from a commuter omnibus driver in order to release him and his vehicle. The two police officers appeared before Harare magistrate Anita Tshuma on charges of criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.

The court heard Mavidza and Kandikita were deployed on a traffic control duty at Market Square in Harare’s central business district last week.

According to state papers, the officers arrested a commuter omnibus driver whose name is not mentioned in the state papers for not possessing adequate documents.

The two allegedly demanded $10 from the driver so that he would avoid paying a possible $20.

The officers, the court heard, were given $10 as a bribe and released the vehicle. The commuter omnibus driver later filed a police report leading to the officers’ arrest.

Magistrate Tshuma released the two on a $50 bail each. They will be back in court on December 31. - Ivan Zhakata