The ManicaPost
Post Correspondent
A MUTARE man who was in the company of four unidentified members of the security forces allegedly extorted US$900 from a Mutare man. The man has since been arraigned before the Mutare magistrates’ court while his accomplices are still at large. Tendai Chitewo (39) appeared before Mutare provincial magistrate, Mr Tendai Mahwe.
Chitewo was charged with contravening Section 134 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23, which makes extortion a punishable offence.
He denied the extortion charges.
Chitewo was granted $500 bail and was remanded out of custody to June 2. Conditions are that he must not interfere with State witnesses and he must continue residing at his given address. Mr Nyasha Gerald Mukonyora represented the State. He told the court that on March 6, Chitewo and his accomplices approached Gift Nyambayo in Chikanga, where Nyambayo was offloading cement from a truck.
“The five identified themselves as agents from the President’s Office. They said they were enforcing the law and went on to demand to see the receipts for the cement. When Nyambayo failed to produce the receipts, Chitewo and the other suspects told him that he was under arrest. They ordered him to proceed with them to Mutare Central Police Station,” said Mr Mukonyora.
On their way to the station, Chitewo is alleged to have demanded a bribe from the complainant in order for them to release him. It is said Nyambayo offered to pay them US$100.
“The accused person and his accomplices refused to accept the US$100, insisting that it was too little. They demanded US$900 from Nyambayo,” said Mr Mukonyora.
The court heard that Nyambayo then called his friend, Clever Masara, who brought him the US$900. The money was handed over to Chitewo, who then left Nyambayo at Zuva Service Station and drove off with his accomplices.
The US$900 that was exhorted from him has not been recovered.
