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Yeukai Karengezeka, Court Correspondent
The trial of suspected South Africa-based hitmen, who were allegedly hired to kidnap and assault a local businessman who had been defrauded of US$800 000 in a botched fuel tanks deal, concluded last week with the State leading evidence from its last witness.
The case involves Moses Monde of Johannesburg, Malvin Manzinde, Malvin Tatenda Nyamuranga, Norbert Muponda and Joshua Mapuranga, who are charged with assault and conspiracy to commit kidnapping.
The complainant in the matter is Oliver Tendai Chipindu and the mastermind of the plot is Obrian Mapurisa, who is still on the run.
Prosecutor Mr Ephraim Zinyandu led evidence from Sergeant Noreta Chiungwe, a digital forensic examiner who is stationed at the Criminal Investigations Department Cyber Laboratory.
She testified that she was the one who examined an iPhone 13 which belongs to the complainant and was able to retrieve some WhatsApp messages, text messages and two audios.
The two audios relate to the recording of the first three-way WhatsApp call that was done when the accused persons were explaining that they had been hired to kill Chipindu before they came to Zimbabwe.
The second one was Chipindu, who secretly recorded accused persons at a local lodge where he met them for the first time and explained their mission and how it failed.
The recordings were tendered as evidence without any objections from the defence counsel Mr Moffat Makuvatsine.
Mr Makuvatsine applied for discharge at the close of the State case and a ruling will be handed down on December 9 by presiding magistrate Mr Stanford Mambanje.
The State led evidence from seven witnesses.
Online Reporter