Citing a report by The Association Press, former US Representative Melvin Jay Reynolds had been detained in Zimbabwe over charges of possession of pornographic material and a violation to the country's immigration law. Immigration official Ario Mabika had told the news wire that Reynolds is currently in custody and will be facing the charges in court soon, the State Journal said.
State-controlled newspaper The Herald had said that Reynolds was arrested by immigration officials and police detectives at a Harare hotel. According to the local paper, Reynolds employed the services of several Zimbabwean models and had other women in his room, where the former US government official conducted his business of taking photos and videos of them purportedly in an explicit nature.
The Herald said Reynolds was being difficult when the arrest had happened. He ordered for authorities to return his mobile phone and laptop back to him. The paper also said that he complained about how police and immigration officials have treated him despite bringing back investors to Zimbabwe. The Illinois Democrat appeared to have gloated his diplomatic work for the country when he recalled his extensive trip itinerary to the African country and said that he had vouched for the dropping of US sanctions against current President Robert Mugabe and his top associates.
The Herald said Reynolds gained notoriety in the African country due to his involvement with the $145 million Hilton Hotel construction project and office complex. The paper said he took a tour of the construction site with several government officials of Zimbabwe and a prominent businessman.
State Journal said that Reynolds is not a foreigner to criminal charges. Prior to the arrest, he has been convicted for statutory rape, obstruction of justice, bank campaign fraud and child pornography-related charges, of which all was commuted by then President Bill Clinton in 2001.
