happiness ChikwanhaPaidamoyo Bore
A CRIMINAL Investigation Department (CID) detective appeared in court yesterday for alleged extortion.
Ignatius Tichana was hauled to court for allegedly extorting the owner of Craneride Petroleum Service Station of more than US$500.
He was granted $100 000 bail when he appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi, who remanded the case to May 2.
The State said on January 24, the complainant was contracted to ferry 120 000 litres of fuel with his three trucks from Beira to Zambia.
When the trucks got to Zambia, the contractor alleged that there was a shortfall of 29 000 litres and reported a case of theft to CID Southerton in Harare.
The court heard that Tichana and his accomplices, who are also cops, arrested the complainant and allegedly threatened him with a long custodial sentence if he did not give them money.
The complainant allegedly gave Tichana and his accomplices US$500.
The court was told that the complainant was released at Mbare Magistrates’ Court the following day.
It was alleged that Tichana and his accomplices went to the complainant’s workplace where they demanded money for fuel and they were given US$50.
Tichana and his accomplices allegedly then impounded one of the complainant’s vehicles and tanker trailer, accusing him of buying them using proceeds from stolen fuel.
They parked the car and tanker trailer at CID Southerton yard.
The State said on February 21, Tichana and his accomplices went to the complainant’s workplace and forced him to sign a seizure form for the impounded trailer and car.
They allegedly demanded US$1 000 to release them.
It was then that the complainant decided to report the matter to the police.
A trap was set and Tichana was arrested after he was lured to get the US$1 000 from the complainant. Zebedia Bofu appeared for the State.
Online Reporter