TWO Chinese men, who with nine other suspects, allegedly kidnapped their fellow countryman were granted US$200 bail by a Harare magistrate yesterday.
Guo Zairen (34) and Wang Gao (40) appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi last week facing a charge of kidnapping.
They are being charged together with 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).
Mangosi remanded them out of custody to May 24 for allocation of trial date.
They were advised not to interfere with State witnesses and to report once every Friday at CID Homicide in Harare.
Prosecutor Anesu Chirenje told the court that on April 17 at around 3pm, the two Chinese nationals teamed up with the Zimbabweans and orchestrated a plan to kidnap Cheng Song. The court documents did not mention why Cheng was targeted.
The suspects went to a Chinese restaurant in Harare’s Belgravia suburb in a white Toyota Fortuner which was being driven by Wang. Cheng was at the restaurant having lunch with his friend, Tu Muqing.
The other suspects followed in two other vehicles.
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Gao, Wang and their colleagues, who allegedly introduced themselves as policemen, claimed that Cheng was under arrest, but failed to notify him of his offence.
Chirenje told the court that the suspected kidnappers handcuffed Cheng, forced him into their vehicle and drove away. They allegedly took Cheng to a house in Mandara.
Tu then phoned Cheng’s cousin Wang Yanan and informed him of the alleged arrest.
Cheng then sent his Google maps location to Wang through a Chinese WeChat internet platform seeking assistance from her. He told her that the suspects were demanding a ransom of US$120 000 to ensure his release without harm.
Wang contacted Superintendent Victor Phiri to report the case. Phiri informed CID Homicide Harare of the kidnap and extortion case, and they swiftly reacted and arrested the suspects at the location.
