AN ex-police officer who was implicated in the alleged extortion racket that targeted popular preacher T Freddy, pictured, was granted bail yesterday after spending three days in custody.
Gibson Jaji, who served as an assistant inspector at the time the offence was allegedly committed, was granted $10 000 bail.
Jaji will appear in court again together with his accomplices, ZBC radio presenter Rutendo Makuti and engineer Mutetepi Maushe, in January next year after the State decided to charge them jointly.
Prosecutors allege that sometime in August 2020, Freddy was involved in an adulterous affair with Makuti.
During the course of their affair, Makuti allegedly started threatening Freddy that if he did not meet her financial demands, she would expose the preacher to the public.
A year later in August, Freddy was summoned by Chief Chikwaka (Witness Bungu), but got wind of the information that there were police officers waiting to extort him at the homestead.
Freddy allegedly decided not to proceed to the hearing he had been summoned to and made a U-turn driving towards Mutoko road intending to return to Harare.
Jaji in concert with the chief, who has not yet been arrested, allegedly drove along Nyamapanda-Mutoko-Harare road and mounted a road block with the intention of apprehending Freddy.
It is alleged at the roadblock, Freddy declined to go back to the chief’s homestead and Jaji forcefully entered his car ordering him to drive back.
Upon arrival at the chief’s homestead, Freddy allegedly noticed some police officers clad in uniforms and six other men in the house.
The state further alleges, Chief Chikwaka accused Freddy of raping Makuti and that he had slept with her before a year had lapsed since the death of her husband.
The chief allegedly told Freddy that he was supposed to pay something as compensation because of the allegations.
Freddy is reported to have felt that he was being implicated in something illegal due to the pressure the accused were putting on him.
He reportedly made a promise to pay US$15 000 and some goats as requested by the chief and Jaji at a later stage.
The chief allegedly made Freddy sign an agreement which was drafted by Jaji.
Jaji also allegedly threatened Freddy that if he did not live up to his promise, they would pick him up at his church during his service.
The chief allegedly also weighed in and told Freddy that he had recorded him and if he failed to honour the agreement, he would leak the videos to the media.
When Freddy returned to Harare, it is reported Makuti started demanding that she be paid the US$15 000 since she was the one aggrieved.
Makuti is reported to have started threatening Freddy that she would expose him at his church and use a social media personality by the name of Tatelicious to defame him.
Freddy allegedly gave in to the demands and gave Makuti a Mercedes Benz E250 valued at US$15 000.
Makuti apparently warned Freddy not to tell anyone and made him sign an agreement that he had given her the car as a way of letting go of their differences.
Despite receiving the car, Makuti is alleged to have gone on further to demand another US$20 000 from Freddy.
On November 11 last month, it is alleged, Maushe, while pretending to be Makuti’s brother, gave Freddy a 24-hour ultimatum to pay the US$20 000 and to sign an acknowledgement that he had raped the radio presenter.
When Freddy realised he could not contain the situation any more, he reported Makuti to the police who then implicated Jaji.
