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Mliswa, who appeared on summons before Harare magistrate Mr Don Ndirowei, was remanded to May 31 for trial.
His lawyer Mr Charles Chinyama gave notice that he would apply for refusal of further remand on the next remand date if the
State is not ready for trial. He submitted that by summoning his client to court, it showed that the State was ready for trial.
Prosecutor Ms Rufaro Mazvimbakupa alleges that sometime in 2009, Mliswa employed Beryl Evelyn Saunders’s parents,
Theunis Leuwis Botha and Wollemiena Doratiena at his Spring farm in Karoi as a mechanic and accountant respectively.
It is alleged that in August the same year, Mliswa accused Doratiena of failing to account for US$4 661 75. He reported the case to the police in Karoi under CR 5589.
Botha, it is alleged, told their son Dion about his mother’s arrest and Dion rushed to the farm and discussed with Mliswa about the arrest.
The State says Dion negotiated with Mliswa over his mother’s release and volunteered to pay back the money.
Mliswa, it is alleged, filed a withdrawal affidavit to the then officer in charge Chief Inspector Morrison Makiwa in which he indicated that he had agreed to have an out of court settlement.
The court heard that in September, Botha and Doratiena resigned from the farm and relocated to Harare. The following month, it is alleged, Mliswa employed Tongai Mvarume, as a stock manager at the farm.
Mvarume, it is alleged, reported a case to the police against Botha accusing him of stealing a tools-box and a cellphone valued at US$350, which he was supposed to use during his employment period.
Ms Mazvimbakupa further alleged that on March 11 this year Mliswa met the couple in Harare and informed the police that they were on the run after stealing from his farm and were wanted by Karoi police.
They were subsequently arrested.
After hearing about her parents’ arrest, it is alleged Beryl went to Borrowdale Police Station were she was advised to approach Mliswa for more information. Mliswa told Beryl that her mother owed him US$3 585 and that her father had stolen some spare parts at his farm.
It is alleged he also blamed her father of failing to repair his tractor, which broke-down and caused him to incur expenses amounting to US$10 000 that he demanded as compensation.
It is alleged Mliswa further demanded US$2 000 from Beryl so that he could withdraw charges against her parents.
It is the State’s case that Beryl managed to pay US$1 600 to Mliswa and she signed a document provided by Mliswa’s wife who posed as his legal advisor. Beryl went to Borrowdale Police Station with the signed document seeking the release of her parents but was told they could only be released in the presence of Mliswa.
The following day Mliswa made Beryl to sign another document as an undertaking that she would pay the balance on March 16.
After signing the document, it is alleged Mliswa and Beryl went to the police station and her parents were released.
It is alleged Mliswa did not tell the police that he had been paid US$1 600.
Online Reporter