Four members of the President’s Department who allegedly extorted US$1 000 from Brian Dziwandi, the director of Dopsa Energy (Pvt) Ltd, were yesterday released on US$100 bail each.
The four members of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) were arraigned before Harare regional magistrate Donald Ndirowei.
Trust Madzunzu (38), Munyaradzi Gondo (38), Joshua Zingwe (40) and Innocent Chigona (38) were remanded to June 10 for a possible trial date.
The four were being represented by Liberty Gono and Dumisani Mtombeni.
Prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti alleged that on May 21 this year, Brian received a phone call from Madzunzu, who identified himself as Trust, stating that he was an agent for Kamativi Mine.
Madzunzu allegedly misrepresented to Brian that he supplies diesel to Kamativi Mine in Hwange and he wanted to partner him in the business.
On May 22 this year, Brian in the company of Simba Dziwandi met Gondo in a parking lot at a Harare hotel.
Madzunzu allegedly asked Brian to get into his vehicle, where his accomplices were waiting inside.
The court heard that they told Brian that they were from the President’s Department and were on a operation to curb fuel smuggling.
The four allegedly told Brian that they received information that he had offloaded fuel in Zimbabwe which was in transit to Lusaka, Zambia.
They allegedly demanded US$10 000 on behalf of their “boss”, whom they did not name.
They threatened to take him to the spy agency’s headquarters at Chaminuka Building to their boss and lock him up.
The court heard that out of fear, Brian told the four to give him time to raise the money.
The accused persons allegedly gave him a ultimatum of 4pm on the same day.
The four allegedly kept on calling to pressure him using different cellphone numbers and landlines.
Brian reported the case to police and on May 23, 2024, a trap was set, leading to the arrest of the four after they went to receive US$1 000 as part payment.