Traffic cop bashed by bus conductor

Harare: A bus conductor, who plies his trade at Charge Office rank, was slapped with 210 hours of unpaid work for assaulting a police officer who had arrested him.

Clayton Manyora, 23, was convicted after a full trial when he appeared before Harare magistrate Rumbidzai Dzumbira charged with touting and assaulting or resisting a peace officer.

He assaulted Constable Innocent Mudambo, accusing him of refusing to issue a ticket after paying the money for a traffic offence.

Manyora was initially sentenced to six months in prison of which three were set aside for five years on condition he does not commit a similar offence.

The remaining three months were suspended on condition he performs 210 hours of community service at St Mary’s Police Station.

In his defence, Manyora told the court that the problem was failure by the police officer to issue a ticket after he gave him US$15.

“The complainant and his colleagues came where I was loading my car and told my driver that he was under arrest.

“They asked for money and were told that I was the one with it, so I went with them.

“When I gave them the money I demanded a ticket but he refused to give me.

“The following day he came with another police officer and told me I was being arrested for touting and assaulting a police officer,” he said. state media