Zim Now Writer
Mashonaland Central freelance journalist Simba Sithole has been granted ZWL$50 000 bail in a matter in which he attempted to extort a property developer.
However, a trap was set and he was caught while receiving the money.
It is the state’s case that Sithole, who freelances for Bulawayo24 and resides in Mvurwi, Mashonaland Central, published an article on April 3 that alleged WestProp was misleading investors with an aim to be able to list on the stock exchange.
The company felt the article was both untrue and malicious and it assigned its Public Relations manager, Michael Chideme, to look into the issue.
Chideme went on to meet Sithole at Pariah State Bar along Second Street Extension in Harare where he indicated that he could have the offending article removed from the Byo24 website before laying out some monetary conditions without specifying the amount.
It is alleged that on the same date, Chideme appraised his employers about the conditions that Sithole had given him for the article to be taken down.
On April 11, Chideme went and met Sithole at Total Service Station opposite the Harare Agricultural Show Grounds, along Samora Machel Avenue.
Sithole reportedly reiterated his willingness to remove the article from the website, but this time, he explicitly stated that he wanted US$400.
He further stated that he had another article that he was on the verge of posting for publication, but was amenable to abort on condition that they pay another undisclosed figure.
Chideme updated his employers about Sithole's demands, who in turn resolved to report the matter to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission on the very day.
On April 12, a trap was set after approval from ZACC, using four marked US$100 denominations. He was arrested soon after receiving the trap money.
Simbarashe Sithole (34) who writes for online publication Byo24 appeared before provincial magistrate Marovanazvo Gofa on Thursday who remanded him to June 8 for trial after freeing him on ZWL$50 000 bail.
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