Langa Mabena
Detective Tafadzwa Chidawa, also known as Detective Kedha, cried in court in Harare on Friday while giving his testimony.
This caused the Chief Magistrate, Vongai Muchuchuti Guwuriro, to pause the hearings until today.
Chidawa is currently in prison because his bail was taken away after he missed court for more than a year.
He faces charges along with his accomplices, Paradza Passmore Matubu, Perseverance Chisango, Malvern Mutanda, and Francis Takura, with Mutanda and Takura still missing.
The case involves Melody Matanhire, who was misled by her boyfriend, Mutanda. He claimed to have US$100,000 in “dirty” money that needed to be cleaned.
He asked Matanhire for US$20,000 in clean bills to help with this. Believing him, she got the money and went with him to Blue Ridge Lodge on August 27, 2020.
However, Mutanda had a plan to steal the money with Chidawa and others. When they arrived at the lodge, Mutanda asked for the US$20,000, and Matanhire gave it to him.
After putting the money in a cooler box, Chidawa and his team entered the lodge, pretended to be police officers, and took Mutanda and the money.
The situation was discovered when Matanhire tried to fake a robbery to hide the loss from her husband.
Detectives later arrested Mutanda, which led to finding items he bought with the stolen money.
Chidawa is expected to return to court today as the trial continues. (The Herald)
Online Reporter
Peter Tanyanyiwa