CIO operative nabbed for extorting US$371 000

Harare magistrate Ms Anita Tshuma who remanded them to October 19 on US$500 bail.
Prosecutor Mr Tungamirai Chakurira said the complainant was Tian Jiangtao (33) of Tiger Bricks (Pvt) Ltd located at Rainharm Farm in Mount Hampden. Mataure is a director of a company called Venshire Enterprises which acts as a broker or dealer in bricks and their transportation.
It is alleged that in 2010, Jiangtao and Magorimbo concluded a binding oral agreement where the latter would market bricks. The agreement lasted for three months after some bricks allegedly went missing.
In March this year, Magorimbo claimed money for unclear services.
On June 26, he filed summons at the High Court under case number 6886/12 in which he claimed US$158 000 being money for unpaid commission arising from breach of contract basing on their oral agreement, the court heard.
Jiangtao responded and the claim was not pursued and is still filed at the High Court for hearing.
On September 26, it is alleged, Mataure approached Jiangtao demanding money for unspecified services before threatening him with unspecified action. Mataure allegedly told Jiangtao that it was possible that Magorimbo could harm him because he was “a CIO operative and a close relative of President Mugabe”.
It is alleged that on different occasions, Magorimbo and Mataure phoned Jiangtao and paid several visits to his company offices threatening to injure him in the event he failed to pay them.
On October 4, the duo handed over a document demanding Jiangtao to pay US$371 000.
Jiangtao filed a police report through his lawyers and a trap with US$3 000 that was in an envelope was set, resulting in the pair’s arrest.
The money was recovered from Magorimbo and Mataure.