NUST Lecturer in court for demanding a bribe from a student

THE National University of Science and Technology lecturer who was arrested on Monday for allegedly soliciting for a bribe from a Masters Degree student who wanted his dissertation marked has appeared in court.

Dr Lerato Nare (48), of Number 7D Northlea Road in Woodville, was not formally charged with criminal abuse of office as a public officer when he appeared before Mr Abednico Ndebele sitting at the Bulawayo magistrates' courts.

Dr Nare was remanded on $50 bail to 19 February and ordered to reside at his given address and not interfere with witnesses. He was arrested near Kingdom Bank in the city centre after the university authorities set up a trap using Mr Joakim George Chakanyuka, of 71083 Lobengula West, who is employed as an administration manager at Foundation College and is a block release student in the Faculty of Commerce at Nust.

Dr Nare is a lecturer in the same department and was the research supervisor for Mr Chakanyuka.

The State led by Mr Malvern Nzombe would want to prove that on four occasions last month, Mr Chakanyuka, who is the informant in the matter, consulted Dr Nare concerning his research project proposal, which the lecturer had allegedly turned down citing poor presentation.

On 31 January, Dr Nare allegedly told Mr Chakanyuka that if he wanted his Masters Degree research project, he had to raise $500 so that it could be prepared on his behalf for submission before the 11 February deadline.

The court was told that Dr Nare told Mr Chakanyuka that he had helped other students in a similar manner in South Africa. Mr Chakanyuka then allegedly promised to raise the money on 3 February and told other students about the deal. His colleagues advised him to alert university authorities, who assigned security guards at the university to investigate.

The court heard that the security guards informed the police and Mr Chakanyuka was given three $100 dollar notes, whose serial numbers were recorded. On Monday at about 9am, Dr Nare was arrested soon after receiving the money from Mr Chakanyuka and the money was recovered from him.

Mr Kholwani Ngwenya, of Mabhikwa, Hikwa and Nyathi Legal Practitioners is representing Dr Nare.

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