The other suspects Mike Trymore Gata, Tichaona Joseph, Enerst Kariwo, Gift Musipa, Munyaradzi Muza, Darleen Soma (formely Miss Mutare), Booker Chinamasa, Trevor Magirazi, Blessing Tauro and Simon Tauro appeared before Mutare magistrate, Anne Ndiraya facing extortion and armed robbery charges.
Other police officers who were implicated in the case, Mike Masenda, Terence Mashaire and Dumisani Ndlovu are still on the run.
The court heard that Mike Gata (28) who is alleged to be the ringleader teamed up with the accused persons on 8 different occasions to rob 16 people in the city. The offences were committed in the leafy suburbs of the city.
The state lead by Chief law officer, Michael Mugabe heard that on August 19, Gata teamed up with Soma Chinamasa, Joseph, Magirazi and Ndlovu to extort money from a resident in Greenside suburb.
Mugabe further told the court that the accused persons acting in cahoots with Dumisani Ndlovu planned to extort money from the complainant. They are alleged to have gone to his house pretending to be selling a diamonds. After the deal flopped they threatened to arrest him for dealing in diamonds and demanded money. The gang was given US$1000,which they shared.
In another case, the court heard that Gata teamed up with Detective constables Gift Musipa, Munyaradzo Muza and Zvitare to extort money from a complainant in Greenside.
The gang is alleged to have produced police identification cards and demanded cash from the resident to spare them from arrest and were given US$200 which they shared among themselves.
On September 23, Gata is alleged to have ganged up with Magirazi and went to a residence in Murambi pretending to be detectives driving in Mercedes Benz C class registration AAX5173. They introduced themselves as police details from Harare and demanded cash. The complainant requested for their ID documents but they refused. He then went into the house pretending to be collecting cash, but called Detective Sergeant Dube of CID Minerals Unit. The gang sensed danger and drove away from the scene, said Mugabe.
On July 14, in Morningside, Gata, Mupira, Kariwo and Joseph allegedly robbed the complainant of US$1800 after they scaled over the security fence, gained entry into the house and grabbed the complainant demanding cash from after accusing him of illegally dealing in diamonds.
They shared the spoils amongst themselves. It is also alleged that they robbed a foreigner Abuly Ibrahim who they met in Chikanga high density and accused him of dealing in diamonds. The allegedly stole his passport and US$ 1000.
Chris Ndlovu of Ndlovu and Gonese Legal Practitioners, Victor Mazengero of Mugadza, Mazengero and Dhliwayo Legal Practitioners and Ashel Mutungura and Partners Legal Practitioners represented the accused. They were remanded in custody and their lawyers have applied for bail.
Post published in: News