31 May 2011
The lawyer representing businessman Temba Mliswa, who is facing extortion charges, yesterday accused police officers of intimidating people to testify against his client on dropped charges and say things that are “off-track”.
Mr Charles Chinyama said this while cross-examining the investigating officer, Detective Inspector Joshua Muzanago.
Mliswa is accused of extorting US$1 600 from Beryl Evelyn Saunders to have her stepfather and mother, Theunis Botha and Willemiana Doratena, released from police custody.
Mr Chinyama asked Det Insp Muzanago if Saunders had directly reported the matter to the police.
“Mliswa met Botha and Doratena on March 11 this year, at Helensvale Shopping Centre where he proceeded to Borrowdale Police Station and said they were wanted criminals in Karoi.
“They were arrested as a result of the information he provided. “We received a document from a law firm stating he extorted money from Saunders and we had to take action in the matter.
“She did not report directly to us,” Det Insp Muzanago said.
Mr Chinyama had earlier on asked the complainant, Saunders on what happened prior to her alleged handing of money to Mliswa.
“My mother and stepfather were detained at Borrowdale police station and I went to Temba’s residence after I was referred to him by police officers.
“On arrival he told me that my parents owed him US$10 500. “He asked for US$2 000 as down payment and the balance had to be brought by month end.
“I then sourced US$1 600 that I handed over to him after he said he was typing a letter for their release.
“I paid the money to him at his Saltlakes Holdings offices and he gave me US$1 000 to give to his wife and the letter so that it can be commissioned,” Saunders said.
Mr Chinyama asked if she paid Mliswa the money under pressure and if she had reported the matter to the police herself.
“I was advised by Constable Peter from Borrowdale station to go and see him since I wanted my parents to be released from the station. Also I did not personally file a police report.
“The letter that came from Mr Mhlanga triggered the case and I paid the money because I did not want a third party to be involved in the matter between Mliswa and my parents.
“I wanted to help by whichever way possible,” Saunders said. Mliswa appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Don Ndirowei and the State is expected to submit its closing submissions on June 3.
Prosecutor Ms Rufaro Mazvimbakupa alleges that sometime in 2009, Mliswa employed Saunders’s parents at his Spring Farm in Karoi as a mechanic and accountant respectively.
It is alleged that in August of the same year, Mliswa accused Doratiena of failing to account for US$4 661,75 and he reported the case to Karoi police under CR 55