adminThupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
A SOLDIER stationed in Gwanda has been arrested for extorting $5,000 and stealing 40 boxes of cigarettes from suspected smugglers along the Beitbridge-Masvingo Road after mounting an illegal roadblock.Daniel Hlekisa, 36, a field security officer who holds the rank of a staff sergeant was arrested on Saturday afternoon.
He has also been charged for impersonation after he misrepresented to the suspected smugglers that he worked for the President’s Office.
Hlekisa was not asked to plead to charges of impersonating a public official, extortion and theft when he appeared before Beitbridge Resident Gloria Takundwa yesterday, but was remanded to July 28 on $200 bail.
Prosecutor Miss Nomathemba Sayi told the court that on July 12, the soldier went to Bubye area some 80km along the Beitbridge Masvingo highway in the company of two other men who are still at large.
The pair has been identified only as Kuda and Joe.
The prosecutor said the trio was travelling in a Toyota Allion registration number ACW3696 when they committed the crime.
They allegedly mounted an illegal roadblock upon arrival at Bubye and intercepted a Toyota Haice and a Toyota Corolla which were carrying contraband of 40 boxes of cigarettes.
The court further heard that Hlekisa approached one Brighton Abina who was said to be the owner of the contraband and allegedly identified himself as an employee in the President’s Office.
The cigarettes were allegedly being transported to an illegal crossing point along the Limpopo River where they were to be smuggled into South Africa.
Hlekisa allegedly demanded $5,000.
He was then given R10,000 and told that he would get the balance upon arrival in Beitbridge.
The soldier is alleged to have insisted on getting the rest of the money on the spot, resulting in Abina offering to drive with him to Beitbridge town where he would give him the balance.
Unbeknown to Hlekisa, the man alerted police detectives in Beitbridge about the incident. Realising that the prospects of getting the money from Abina were next to none, the soldier told his accomplices to confiscate the cigarettes worth $4,800.
Kuda and Joe went away with the contraband while Hlekisa was arrested by police detectives upon arrival in Beitbridge town.
The money is yet to be recovered from the suspect.
Online Reporter