A Kariba immigration officer who was last week jailed for a year for demanding a bribe from a Ugandan national has been freed on bail pending appeal.
By Nhau Mangirazi
Mercy Chikandiwa stationed at Kariba border post was convicted following a full trial before magistrate Toendepi Zhou.
Prosecutor Temptation Maromo told the court that Chikandiwa demanded $70 from Linda Kusima so that she could facilitate her passage without any challenges. Maromo said Chikandiwa committed the offence on July 14.
Although she denied the allegations, it was proven by the court that Chikandiwa abused her duty as a public officer.
She was sentenced to 18 months in prison of which six were wholly suspended on condition of good behaviour for five years.
The judgement was handed down on Friday but within a few hours, she was granted $100 bail pending appeal after her lawyer Unite Saizi made an appeal against the judgement.
