MANICALAND, Zimbabwe — Police have arrested four men in a bribery sting operation after they allegedly attempted to extort US$500 from a woman by promising to influence her husband’s ongoing murder case.
The suspects — Nigel Godwin Mukuruzado, Reginald Ndarera, Shaloom Nyamazana, and Tinashe Chiwaye — reportedly claimed to have powerful connections within the justice system who could downgrade the charge from murder to culpable homicide.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrests, stating that officers apprehended the group while they were in the process of receiving the money from the complainant.
“They were arrested while receiving the money from the complainant. We want to warn the public that such scams are on the rise and that genuine legal processes cannot be manipulated through bribery,” Nyathi said.
The incident has reignited public concern over corruption and exploitation in Zimbabwe’s legal system. Legal expert Fungai Mazenge noted that while many such schemes are run by impostors, some involve actual insiders abusing their positions.
“This shows how vulnerable families of accused persons become when they are desperate. They are easily exploited by criminals who promise to influence outcomes,” Mazenge said.
The suspects are expected to appear in court later this week. Authorities have urged the public to report any suspicious individuals offering to manipulate ongoing legal cases.
