admin
Zibusiso Moyo
AN armed robber who raided, tortured and stole from three millers using a 303 rifle and a pistol was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Willard Nyakurimwa (23) found three millers, Clappeton Nkomo and Brian Ndlovu and Petros Dlamini sleeping in a tent near their milling company machine at Sunace Ngaka milling site.
Nyakurimwa was in the company of two accomplices Luckson Khumalo and Millington Ncube.
Besides guns they had a machete and an axe.
He appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Joseph Mabeza charged with contravening section 126 of the criminal law codification and reform Act Chapter 9:23 of robbery.
He was slammed with a 12 year prison sentence while four years were set aside on conditions of good behaviour.
One of the victims, Dlamini, told the court that they were forced to march out of the tent by Nyakurimwa and his colleagues who tied their hands with a wire before assaulting them while demanding cash and cellphones.
“They forced us out of the tent, tied us with a wire and demanded money and our cellphones,’’ said Dlamini.
‘’They were threatening to shoot at us if we did not comply with them,’’ he added.
The trio stole money and property from the millers which was worth $1 430. Only $20 was recovered.
They took $30, $1 000 in bond notes and a cellphone from Ndlovu. They also took $100 and a cellphone from Nkomo.
Khumalo and Ncube were the first to be nabbed on 13 November following a raid by the police.
They later revealed the location of Nyakurimwa who was arrested in Kwekwe.
Among the trio Nyakurimwa is the only one who was sentenced as he had pending cases of mugging people in the streets.
Nkomo and Ncube are still under custody and await their trial on 8 January 2019.
Online Reporter