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THE grandmother of the two men who allegedly lost R80 000 to two detectives in an extortion case who was meant to be the chief witness, has reportedly refused to testify in court.
The complainants, Mr Jabulani Gwizi and Mr Aleck Zikhali told the court that Ms Eveline Tshabalala handed the cash box with R100 000 to Detective Sergeant Moses Taruva and Det Sgt Godfrey Moyo as the two detectives demanded money so that they would not arrest them.
Messrs Gwizi and Zikhali had told the court that they wanted Mrs Tshabalala, their landlady and a driver who witnessed the events when the two were arrested to testify in court.
Addressing court yesterday, the prosecutor, Mr Tony Kamudyariwa said Mrs Tshabalala refused to sign the subpoenas summoning her to court.
“The witness refused to sign subpoenas and went on to tell the police that she would never come to court. While the court can force a witness to come and testify, the problem in this case is that she is mentally ill,” said Mr Kamudyariwa.
The court had sought to proceed with trial when the complainants indicated that the elderly woman had shown willingness to testify.
The Western Commonage magistrate Ms Tancy Dube, prosecutor, Mr Kamudyariwa, defence lawyer, Mr David Mhiribidi, of D W Mhiribidi and Partners and the complainants visited Ms Tshabalala at her house but she became violent insisting that she was not willing to say anything.
Ms Tshabalala reportedly told the complainants that she feared that forcing her to testify was a ploy to take away her house.
Constable Paul Nyamukanyiwa who is stationed at Luveve Police Station and accompanied Det Sgts Taruva and Moyo to house Number 1016 Emakhandeni to arrest Mr Gwizi and Mr Zikhali and Constable Anthony Chinanzvire of Western Commonage Police Station who helped the two detectives to uncuff the complainants have testified in court.
The two detectives have denied extorting the money at gunpoint, saying they did not have a firearm.
They said they neither assaulted the complainants nor threatened to shoot them for illegally dealing in gold.
Messrs Gwizi and Zikhali told the court that Det Sgt Moyo produced the pistol and assaulted them in the absence of his colleague who had gone to drop Const Nyamukanyiwa at his workplace.
Messrs Gwizi and Zikhali earlier told the court that their statements which were recorded at the police station had been altered.
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