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Zvikomborero Parafini
BUSINESSWOMAN Phionah Riekert is facing robbery charges and spent the weekend in remand prison.
Riekert was back in court yesterday and appeared before regional magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa together with her accomplice Innocent Chiwara.
They were released on US$400 bail each.
The court heard that last month Riekert won a tender to supply 90 mattresses at Bindura Provincial Hospital.
She subcontracted the deal to complainant Paul Masunda to make the mattresses for the hospital on her behalf.
It is the State’s case that Masunda charged Riekert US$1800, inclusive of labour, and all the materials required.
Riekert allegedly gave Masunda his money and he manufactured the mattresses and gave them to her.
The mattresses were supplied but condemned by authorities at Bindura Provincial Hospital.
They rejected the mattresses on the basis that they were of poor quality and were not waterproof as expected.
It is alleged Riekert returned the mattresses to Masunda who promised to rectify the problem by using the correct material.
The court heard that on October 18, Riekert and Chiwara teamed up and drove to Masunda’s house in a South African registered yellow Hummer.
The duo approached Masunda, who was in his car by the gate outside his house, and Riekert asked him about the mattresses.
Masunda told them that he was still to complete the job.
A misunderstanding arose between Riekert and Masunda which prompted her to produce a gun which she pointed at him before ordering him to surrender his car keys to Chiwara.
Masunda surrendered his car keys to Chiwara who drove the car away.
Two Toyota Land Cruisers, with no vehicle registration numbers, then parked at Masunda’s gate.
One of the occupants disembarked and forced Masunda into one of the vehicles.
There was a pistol in the car which was placed between the seats.
The cars were driven to High Glen Shopping Centre.
Riekert had already arrived at the shopping centre.
She started assaulting Masunda.
When he was released, Masunda went to ZRP Budiriro and filed a police report.
Masunda’s car was recovered from Riekert’s office.
Anesu Chirenje prosecuted.
Online Reporter