Two men have been @rrested and charged with extortion after allegedly posing as police officers and demanding US$3,000 from a traditional healer in Harare. The suspects, George Chiringa and Onsimo Maruke, appeared before Harare Magistrate Dennis Mangosi and were granted US$100 bail each.
Their case has been postponed until May 30.According to the prosecution, Chiringa and Maruke called the traditional healer, Oliver Dzviti, claiming to be clients seeking his services at a shrine in Zimre Park.
Upon arrival, they introduced themselves as police officers, @ccusing Dzviti of escaping from Chinhoyi Prison in 2009.
The pair then thre@tened to arr3st Dzviti if he did not give them US$3,000, insisting that they would make his life difficult. Fearing for his safety, Dzviti handed over the money.
The court will reconvene on May 30 to continue the trial and determine whether Chiringa and Maruke are guilty of extortion.
Chonzi further alleged that Chiringa and Maruke dragged Dzviti from his shrine claiming that they were taking him to ZRP Ruwa.
She said along the way, the suspects demanded US$7 000 from Dzviti to buy his freedom but he managed to give them US$3 000.
The two allegedly drove away leaving Dzviti stranded.
However, the vehicle’s registration number was taken during the offence and investigations led to the @rrest of the suspected bogus cops.
SOURCE : NEWSDAY
