CID boss's fraud trial date set

The trial of Bulawayo's CID Fraud Section boss accused of extortion after he allegedly demanded $550 from a local accused of fraudulent activities in order to free him will commence next week, Thursday.

Detective Chief Inspector George Machinga (44), the officer-in-charge of the Criminal Investigations Department Fraud Section, who was arrested last month, is out of custody on $50 bail.

Machinga, who is being represented by a lawyer, Mlamuli Ncube, appeared before Magistrate Sibongile Msipa at the Tredgold Courts yesterday where he denied the extortion charges.

Machinga was arrested after a trap was set by a group of police officers following the complainant, Pardon Dube's report at the provincial police headquarters.

Meanwhile, two Central Investigations Department (CID) detectives who coerced a suspected fraudster for a $2 000 bribe in order to conceal his alleged offence, appeared in court yesterday.

Tinofireyi Carrington Mutanha (33) and his co-accused, Fortune Chiwaya (32), were based at CID serious fraud squad department at Harare Central police station. They are facing charges of the criminal abuse of duty as public officers. According to state prosecutor, Farai Gatsi, the duo went to Chinhoyi on February 5 this year with intention to apprehend a suspected fraudster.

The alleged suspect, Admire Mbovha is, the complainant in the matter.

Magistrate Donal Ndirowei heard that upon arrival in Chinhoyi, the two detectives met Mbovha and subsequently laid fraud allegations against him. Though the complaint refuted the allegations, the pair demanded a payment of $150 as a hire fee for the motor vehicle they had used in pursuance of the issue.

After receiving the money, the two law enforcement agents later demanded $1 000 so that the matter could be finalised. Mbovha pleaded with the two accused persons and pledged to make a payment at a later date.

True to his word, the complainant went on to send $32 into Chiwaya's Ecocash account. After receiving the money, the former phoned the complainant demanding more cash on the pretext that it was being demanded by his superiors.

The complainant promised to source funds so he could pay up. On March 4, Mutanha phoned the complainant requesting air time for his phone and the latter complied with $10 recharge cards. Later on, the two accused persons continued nagging the complainant, demanding more money for the case to be closed.

They went on to threaten Mbovha that failure to pay the money in full could see his alleged fraud matter being pursued.

The complainant got infuriated by the demands and filed a police report on June 4, leading to the pair's arrest. Mutanha and Chiwaya are out of custody on $50 bail each and are due back in court in July 22