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Online Reporter

A Harare man, Tafadzwa Chidawa, popularly known as Detective Kedha, accused of kidnapping a Hwange business woman Ms Sallom Gandiya was yesterday further remanded in custody to Monday, after his lawyer failed to show up for bail ruling.

Chidawa and his five alleged accomplices who are still on the run reportedly abducted Ms Gandiya on March 5 and later dumped her at Harare Central Police Station.

Chidawa appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Dennis Mangosi facing allegation of abduction.

He was not asked to plead.

However, Mr Mangosi deferred the matter to Monday after Chidawa’s lawyer failed to show up.

Mr Mangosi was expected to deliver the bail ruling, determining whether Chidawa will be released or detained pending further investigations.

It is the State case that Chidawa was allegedly conducting an investigation on behalf of Ms Gandiya’s boyfriend Lazarus James also from Hwange Town.

On that fateful day, Chidawa and his five accomplices allegedly contacted Ms Gandiya, posing as her boyfriend’s cousin.

Upon reaching Caledon Shops, Chidawa and his accomplices, introducing themselves as police detectives from Harare Central Police Station, approached Ms Gandiya and her taxi driver.

They informed them that they were under arrest for allegedly deceiving James about her pregnancy.

Using force and handcuffs, they coerced Ms Gandiya into a car and drove towards Mutare Road.

However, in a courageous act, Ms Gandiya managed to contact her Gweru based lawyer during the ordeal, informing him that she had been kidnapped.

After finding out that she had just informed her lawyer about the kidnapping, the gang abruptly changed their plans and decided to return to Harare.

They ultimately abandoned Ms Gandiya and her taxi driver at Harare Central Police Station, where the victims promptly filed a police report recounting the harrowing experience.

In January, Chidawa appeared in court for allegedly stealing a vehicle worth US$12 000 from South Africa and smuggling it into Zimbabwe.

This case, along with two fraud cases, is still pending.

Mr Rufaro Chonzi appeared for the State.