dyton mupawaenda
Prosper Dembedza-Herald Correspondent
THE trial for two suspected armed robbers allegedly part of a gang that stole cash and jewellery worth over US$1,2 million from ABC Auctions in Harare continued yesterday with the State calling as a witness, ABC Auctions financial manager Mrs Shylo Keth.
Phebion Nyuke and Osinege Zvomuya are facing two counts of armed robbery.
Mrs Keth told the court that the money which was stolen was in three safes which the gang opened with explosives. The money belonged to creditors of the company.
“We had to retrench some employees as a result of the incident,” she said.
During cross examination the two defence lawyers hammered away at the value of the stolen property, which was incidental to the actual armed robbery charge.
During cross examination by lawyer Mr Joseph Nemaisa, Mrs Keth agreed that there were no documents showing the value of the stolen jewellery. Mr Nemaisa put it to Mrs Keth that besides her claims, there was nothing before the court proving that there was the money and jewellery later listed before the robbery.
Mr Nemaisa also said Mrs Keth failed to quantify the jewellery that was stolen, adding that she only made a formal statement to the police after some jewellery was recovered.
When professor Lovemore Madhuku, who is representing Zvomuya, took over cross examination, he questioned Mrs Keth on why the police did not produce all the recovered jewellery as exhibits .
Mrs Keth said she believed the remainder of the jewellery was still in the possession of CID officers.
Online Reporter