COSTLY US$6, 500 SEX SESSION

A POLICE officer has appeared in court being charged for extortion after he connived with a commercial sex worker, who is still at large, to dupe a man of US$6 300.

Marshall Ngandu (49) appeared before Harare Magistrate Donald Ndirowei who granted him US$100 bail.

The State said Ngandu is a police sergeant. Allegations are that Mark Anthony Naidoo (50), engaged Behavior Makumbira, who is a commercial sex worker, for sexual activities.

He then took her to his house where they had consensual sexual intercourse and he paid her US$30 they exchanged phone numbers.

The following day, Naidoo received a WhatsApp message from Ngandu, who was using Makumbira’s cellphone, and he introduced himself as Tatsi from Harare Central Police Station.

He summoned Naidoo to the station for an interrogation.

When Naidoo got to the station, he was handed a paper which had allegations that he had forced Makumbira to perform oral sex against her will.

He denied the allegations.

Ngandu warned Naidoo that he was likely to face jail so he should compromise with Makumbira so that they solve the issue amicably.

Makumbira demanded US$3 500 for her to drop the rape allegations.

Naidoo tried to negotiate with Makumbira to reduce the amount but she insisted that she wanted US$3 500.

He succumbed to the demands and gave her US$3 500.

Makumbira took US$2 000 and handed over US$1 500 to Ngandu.

Cumulatively Naidoo was extorted US$ 6 300. Makumbira continued with her demands, including money for rentals and capital to start a business.

A trap was then set leading to the arrest of the culprits.