A 24-YEAR-OLD Harare man, who allegedly impersonated Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa and extorted $3 000 from an unsuspecting complainant, was denied bail when he appeared in court yesterday.
by PAIDAMOYO MUZULU
Tarisai Rugare Chiriga and his co-accused Tinashe Muwandi (33) were both remanded in custody to January 4 next year. Presiding magistrate, Elijah Makomo later turned against the unnamed complainant, describing him as gullible.
“The complainant was very gullible to think that a whole State Vice-President would personally call demanding $3 000,” Makomo said.
According to State papers, the alleged offence was committed sometime in November this year.
“Chiriga would call the complainant on his mobile phone purporting to be Mnangagwa, demanding money and threatening him, saying his life would be in danger if he did not give the money.”
He was arrested on Monday when he had gone to the complainant to receive a further $60. The court ordered the State to investigate reports of police brutality raised by the complainants.
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Meanwhile, Harare regional magistrate Fadzai Mthombeni yesterday acquitted a Central Intelligence Organisation operative, Zvikomborero Walter Ngorima, who had been charged with criminal abuse of duty as a public officer or alternatively extortion. Mthombeni, in upholding Ngorima’s application for discharge at the close of the State’s case, said the prosecution had failed to adduce evidence in court that proved a prima facie case against the accused.
It was the State’s case that Ngorima, in July this year, threatened Timothy Waweru, a Kenyan national, with deportation if he did not produce Benjamin Masyuku, who had allegedly promised to give former Home Affairs minister Kembo Mohadi and his deputy Ziyambi Ziyambi financial rewards for assisting him to re-enter Zimbabwe after he had been deported previously.
It was further alleged that Ngorima told Waweru that the two ministers were furious about Masyuku’s failure to honour his promise to give them a reward of $10 000 for facilitating his return to Zimbabwe after his deportation in 2013.
Ngorima’ was represented by Oliver Marwa, while Daniel Muchimbiri prosecuted the case.
In a related matter, the trial of Herald journalist Takunda Maodza on extortion charges failed to commence yesterday after the State witnesses failed to turn up. The trial was remanded to January 12 next year.
