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TWO men who allegedly attempted to extort $10 000 from a Mutare couple were last week remanded in custody.
Francis Mazuru (42) and Tendai Joshua Sithole (32) denied the extortion charges as defined in terms of Section 189 as read with Section 134 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 when they appeared Mr Langton Mukwengi.
Mr Fletcher Karombe prosecuted.
Allegations were that Mazuru, Sithole and Lawrence Kasu, who is still at large, connived and acquired a Telecel line, number 0734112102, which they registered in the name of Prisca Chingwada.
They allegedly used it to text several threatening messages to Chizondo and his wife, Sarah Masenda requesting Chizondo to pay $10 000.
In the text messages which were read in court, the accused persons were warning Chizondo not to waste their time by not paying up the money they wanted.
They threatened him that his garage could be burnt if he failed to pay up.
Chizondo was also told that he had been lucky since they had visited his child’s school, but had failed to locate the minor.
“Visited mwana kuchikoro, angaasiko, that was very clever of you. Mambo we have finished our moves, be kindly advised that we are giving you 24 hours or face the outcomes (sic).”
On the day of they were arrested they allegedly sent Chizondo a text message telling him that they were outside his gate and needed the money.
Mazuru allegedly entered the premises leaving his two co-accused waiting for him in a white Honda Fit vehicle.
A citizen’s arrest was effected on Mazuru, while Sithole and Kasu fled.
Sithole was later arrested at his Chikanga residence and Kasu is still at large.
They were remanded in custody to March 21.
Online Reporter