adminNyore Madzianike Senior Court Reporter
A deserting soldier and an ex-Bulawayo police officer who are suspected to be part of an 11-member gang that killed a man in Harare’s Belvedere suburb a fortnight ago and stole US$30 500 during an armed robbery, yesterday appeared at Harare Magistrates’ Court charged with armed robbery, murder and attempted murder.
Polite Sibanda (30) and Khumbulani Mapingire (38) were not asked to plead to the charges when they appeared before magistrate Mrs Judith Taruvinga, who told them only the High Court could grant bail for suspects on those charges.
Sibanda and Mapingire were represented by Mr Tawanda Takaindisa.
State counsel, Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa alleged that on September 11 around 9pm, the gang of 11 armed themselves with an AK47 assault rifle, a pistol, a revolver and a 12 gauge shotgun and went to Mr Sawarah Shar’s house in Belvedere.
Upon arrival, with some wearing police and army uniforms, they entered the garden and waylaid Mr Shar as he was driving along the driveway intending to park.
As soon as he parked, the 11 armed robbers confronted and handcuffed him, before disarming him of his pistol.
Mr Shar’s wife, Raheema, who was inside the house heard the noise and peeped through the window and saw her husband being manhandled and force-marched into the house.
Mrs Shar informed other members of the family and phoned members of the neighbourhood watch.
The armed robbers threatened Mr Shar with death, demanding to be shown the safe which was in his bedroom while others manhandled those who were in the house.
The court heard that the gang tied Mr Shar’s family using electric cables and then unlocked the safe and stole the money, another pistol and other valuables.
During that time, members of the neighbourhood watch, including Ashruf Bhagoo, arrived at the house.
One of the robbers, who was dressed in anti-riot gear and armed with a revolver confronted Abdul Sappa and Dylan Surfee.
Drawing his pistol, Surfee started firing towards the robbers.
One fired back, resulting in Surfee being grazed on the head by a bullet. The gang went on to disarm Sappa and Bhagoo and attacked them, leaving Bhagoo with multiple gunshot injuries before they escaped with the cash and five guns.
Police recovered military gear and cartridges used during the attack.
Bhaggo died on September 16 from the injuries sustained during the armed robbery.
The body of Lawrence Maseko was found at corner Hebert Chitepo Avenue and Hummy Road in Belvedere, he was shot in the fierce exchange of gunfire during the armed robbery.
Police detectives made a follow up and arrested Polite Sibanda, who then implicated the other gang members and led to the recovery of a pistol and live bullets at his house.
The pistol belonged to Mr Shar.
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