A Harare magistrate granted US$200 bail to two Chinese kidnappers and nine other suspects who are accused of kidnapping a fellow citizen.
Last week, Guo Zairen (34), Wang Gao (40), 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), all appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi on charges of kidnapping.
Mangosi placed them in remand until May 24 in order to set a trial date, on the understanding that they would not obstruct State witnesses and would report to CID Homicide in Harare on Fridays.
Prosecutor Anesu Chirenje stated that the two Chinese citizens worked with the Zimbabweans on April 17 at approximately 3 p.m. to abduct Cheng Song; however, the court records did not indicate Cheng’s intended victim.
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The suspects headed to a Chinese restaurant in the Belgravia neighbourhood of Harare where Cheng and his companion Tu Muqing were eating lunch. Wang was driving the suspects in a white Toyota Fortuner. Two other vehicles carried the other suspects.
Claiming to be police officers, Gao, Wang, and their cronies stated that Cheng was under arrest but did not elaborate on the nature of his offence. After forcing Cheng into their car and handcuffing him, they went to a Mandara residence. Chinese Kidnappers Granted Bail
Tu reported the purported arrest to Wang Yanan, Cheng’s cousin. Then, using the Chinese WeChat instant messaging app, Cheng sent Wang his location on Google Maps in an attempt to get help. He told her that the suspects wanted to pay a US$120,000 ransom to get him released unscathed.