Freelance Journalist Patrick Chasaya appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court on charges of extorting a local firm after claiming to have negative information about its illegal business practices.
Chasaya is believed to have contacted Ali Noshad and threatened to write an article on the company’s involvement in black box money scams and the sale of out-of-date foam bath products, sexual toys, immigration irregularities and money laundering.
He then demanded the sum of $4000 to stop publishing the story.
ZACC disclosed the incident, and the suspect was detained following a sting operation.
Chasaya was given bail of $200 in the court of Harare magistrate Ruth Moyo on Saturday.
