A gold buyer held hostage a Chinhoyi couple for selling him fake gold worth US$24 000.
Donald Chiwenga (45) has since appeared before Dennis Manogid accused of holding hostage Eric Marangarire and Mercy Maphosa after establishing they had sold him 480 grams of fake gold, NewZimbabwe reported.
The court heard that Chiwenga also forcibly took the couple’s four vehicles to make up for what they had done to him.
Chiwenga appeared before Harare Magistrate Dennis Mangosi and was remanded in custody until January 21 of 2023.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) alleges Chiwenga purchased 480 grams of fake gold worth US$24 000 from Marangarire and Maphosa.
The court heard that Chiwenga only realised it was fake when he was smelting it in Kwekwe.
Infuriated by this, Chiwenga planned a payback by holding the couple hostage and forcing the two to sign agreements of sale of their four vehicles to his name in the presence of a lawyer.
The cars include a Mercedes Benz, Honda Fit, Toyota Hilux and Toyota Corolla.