adminElizabeth Tsuro Midlands Reporter
TWO inspectors from the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) in Gweru were yesterday arraigned before the courts on allegations of demanding $1,000 bribe from a sand poacher.
Leonard Berekwa, 40, and Given Maregere, 35, of Mkoba, Gweru, appeared before Magistrate, Tayengwa Chibanda, facing allegations of extortion.
The duo pleaded not guilty and was remanded out of custody on free bail to October 13 for trial.
Prosecuting, Emmanuel Matosi, told the court that on September 19, Berekwa and Maregere who are employed as environmental inspectors by EMA, impounded Ephraim Patai’s vehicle after finding him illegally extracting sand from a site in Ivene, Gweru.
Matosi told the court that Berekwa and Maregere threatened to impound Patai’s vehicle for a longer period unless he parted with a $2,000 bribe.
The court heard that Patai indicated that he could not pay as he did not have that kind of money.
“Berekwa and Maregere took advantage of Patai and then demanded $1,000. Patai agreed to pay the money in three days for them to facilitate the release of his vehicle without writing a ticket and reporting the matter to EMA officials,” said Matosi.
He said Patai went and reported the matter to the police.
The court heard that the police set a trap leading to the arrest of Berekwa and Maregere along Kopje Road, Gweru after receiving $800 from Patai at EMA offices in Gweru.
Bongani Ndlovu