Chinese nationals up for extorting compatriot

Michael Mashiri

Four Chinese nationals, including one woman, have appeared before magistrate Dennis Mangosi charged with extortion.

Hu Ronghua, 49, Hu Qinglin, 25, Meng Xianlei, 51 and Bertha Meng appeared before at the Harare Magistrate' Courts accused of extortion.

The State, through prosecutor Zebediah Bofu, alleges that between May 2023 and July 2023, Ronghua, Qinglin, Xianlei and Meng, exerted illegitimate pressure on Lin Xu by demanding payment of RMB16 270 000 and forcefully stopping him from continuing with an ongoing project, intending to make Lin Xu buy shares held by Ronghua and Qinglin in a company called Huayee Private Limited against his will.

They further exerted pressure by blocking Xu from accessing the immovable property called lot 2 subdivision 6 of Somerby, Zvimba and forcing him to stop the construction of a factory unless he paid the demanded bribe to Ronghua and Qinglin.

Mangosi released them on free bail to August 31, pending investigations.