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Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
A former police officer allegedly connived with his two accomplices to process fake police identity cards which they used to extort US$5 000 from a local doctor.
Basil Kichima (36) and his alleged accomplices accused Doctor Taziva Maketa of buying a stolen surgery machine before demanding US$5 000 to secure freedom.

Kichima yesterday appeared before magistrate Mr Milton Serima charged with extortion.

He was remanded in custody to today for bail ruling after prosecutor Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa opposed bail.

It is alleged that on October 9 at around 4pm, Kichima and his accomplices confronted Dr Maketa at Glen View Medical Centre.

The trio produced police identity cards and identified themselves as detectives from Harare Central Police Station.

They accused Dr Maketa of buying a stolen suction machine.

They informed him that he was under arrest before force marching him into their getaway vehicle, the court heard.

They drove towards the city centre and along the way they were threatening him with detention in police cells. They then demanded US$5 000 in exchange for his freedom, it is the State’s case.

Dr Maketa, it is alleged, gave them US$4 000, but they demanded more cash. They drove to a bank where he withdrew US$1 000 which he handed over to them.

They later dropped him in town and went away.

Meanwhile, a 25-year-old police officer Tendai Ndodzo, yesterday appeared before the same magistrate on allegations of mounting an illegal roadblock in Borrowdale where he would extort money from motorists.

Ndodzo, who is stationed at Rhodesville Police Station, used his personal BMW as a getaway car.

He is being charged with two counts of extortion and driving without a licence.

It is the State’s case that on October 15 at around 7am, Mark Halderman was driving while talking on the phone when he was approached by Ndodzo at the intersection of Churchill Avenue and Twentydales Road.

Ndodzo who was alone and donning his police uniform, accused Halderman of answering his mobile phone while driving and as a result he demanded US$800 so that he could not arrest him.

Out of fear it is alleged Halderman gave him US$270 and he went away.

When he realised that he was not given a receipt for the payment, he went and reported the matter at the Police General Headquarters.

On October 17, Ndodzo attempted to extort US$300 from another motorist who also filed a report at the PGHQ.

Investigations led to his arrest and upon arrest, it was discovered that he was driving without a driver’s licence.