adminago.
The depot lost US$14 000 cash and seven mobile phones to robbers who raided it pretending to be detectives investigating a theft case. The trio appeared before a Karoi magistrate court this week facing robbery and unlawful entry charges. Shepherd Chidawaya (39) of Kuwadzana 5, Shepherd Kalambo (36) and Maxwell Chidawaya both from Marondera were not formally charged when they appeared before magistrate Mr Elisha
Singano. They were remanded in custody to June 13.
It is the State’s case that on May 20 this year, the trio allegedly went to National Foods depot in Karoi where they misrepresented that they were from CID Karoi investigating a case of theft by depot staff. The trio allegedly took the staff members into separate offices at different times purporting to be interviewing them.
While in the offices they tied six staff members’ hands and legs using clothes before ordering each one of them to surrender their cellphones.
The three allegedly later force-marched Takesure Zirema to the safe where they ordered him to unlock the safe before looting US$13 756. They then tied Zirema before disappearing with their loot, it is alleged.
The matter was reported to the police and a manhunt was launched and on the same day the detectives managed to track down the suspects. However, the suspects managed to escape police arrest but dropped a cash box containing part of the stolen cash, a cellphone and a jacket. The three were, however, arrested three days later.
Police have so far recovered US$8 552 and the three have since been positively identified by witnesses at a parade last week. Kalambo has two other pending cases of robbery at Chegutu and Kadoma Magistrates’ Courts. – CR.
Online Reporter