Eleven people were on trial yesterday on charges of Impersonators posing as law enforcement officers, planning the kidnapping of a man, and then extorting a $120,000 ransom from his family.
Guo Zairen (34), Wang Gao (40), Primrose Miga (34), Charles Matondo (46), Tonderai Naison Kaja (34), Charles Notice (34), Christopher Chirombe (34), O’brian Miti (31), Simbarashe Kumba (24), Carlington Konselia (28), and Oswel Tinotenda Tsikai (29) appeared before Harare magistrate Mr. Dennis Mangosi to face kidnapping charges.
The prosecution opposed bail, citing concerns that the suspects might abscond.
Detective Gentle Tapererwa, the investigating officer, argued against granting bail, noting that some of the accused had attempted to flee from police custody.
Mr. Mangosi deferred the bail ruling to Monday.
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According to the court, on April 17, the suspects formulated a plan to abduct the victim and extort ransom money. Acting in concert, five of them, along with Tendai Notice who remains at large, visited a Chinese restaurant in Belgravia. They arrived in a white Toyota Fortuner driven by Guo, and a Toyota Belta driven by Tendai Notice.
Upon locating the victim, Cheng Song, having lunch with his friend, Tu Muqing, Guo and Wang purportedly Impersonators as police officers along with Kaja, Chirombe, and Miti. They then arrested Cheng without specifying any charges and forcibly took him away in their vehicle, leaving Tu Muqing behind.
The suspects transported Cheng to a residence in Mandara, where Miga, Matondo, Kumba, Konselia, and Tsikai were waiting.
Tu Muqing alerted Cheng’s cousin, Wang Yanan, of the abduction. Cheng managed to convey his location to Wang Yanan via a messaging platform. She sought assistance from Superintendent Victor Phiri of the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
Upon investigation, it was discovered that the location provided by Cheng was in a remote area near Chikurubi Maximum Prison. Meanwhile, Cheng informed Wang Yanan of his predicament and the demand for ransom.
The suspects then contacted Wang Yanan using Cheng’s phone, instructing her to come to the remote location. Law enforcement intervened promptly, intercepting Charles Notice, Chirombe, Konselia, and Tsikai as they attempted to flee in a Toyota Fortuner.
After a pursuit, the suspects’ vehicle veered off the road, leading to their apprehension. Law enforcement subsequently rescued Cheng from the Mandara residence.
