Bogus Westgate Police Officers Arrested for Extorting US$3K from a Sangoma
Two Westgate bogus police officers have been arrested for allegedly extorting US$3Kfrom a sangoma. George Chiringa (53) and Onsimo Maruke (50) appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi and were granted the defendants bail and set the next court appearance for May 30.
Posing as Clients, Demanding Ransom
According to the prosecution led by Rufaro Chonzi, the incident took place on April 26 when Chiringa and Maruke contacted Oliver Dzviti, pretending to be potential clients seeking his services at a shrine in Zimre Park. Upon arriving at Dzviti’s residence, they identified themselves as police officers. They then claimed to have a mission to arrest him for escaping from Chinhoyi Prison in 2009.
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Forced Payment and Stranded Victim
The prosecution further alleged that Chiringa and Maruke forcefully removed Dzviti from his shrine, stating that they were taking him to ZRP Ruwa. Along the way, the suspects demanded a sum of US$7,000 from Dzviti in exchange for his freedom, ultimately settling for US$3,000.
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After extorting the money, the two individuals left Dzviti stranded, driving away from the scene. However, investigators managed to obtain the vehicle’s registration number during the offense, which ultimately led to the arrest of the alleged fake cops.
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Bail Applications Rejected for Suspected Money Changers in Harare
In a separate development, the court rejected bail applications for two of the 65 suspected money changers apprehended in Harare. Elliot Mavhura and Francis Kaunda were denied bail by Harare magistrate Mrs Ethel Chichera, resulting in their remand in custody until May 14th.
State Presents Case Against Bail
Harare magistrate Chichera considered the evidence presented during the bail hearings for Mavhura and Kaunda. After reviewing the applications, the court ruled that the two individuals were unsuitable candidates for bail due to the seriousness of the contravention of the Exchange Control Act charges they face.