adminMunyaradzi Musiiwa Midlands Correspondent
POLICE in Mvuma have arrested two First Class Coaches bus inspectors and two drivers after they allegedly connived to steal 90 000 rand which they were supposed use to purchase some goods in South Africa.Norman Dandajena (33), Anyway Karima (29) and Robert Mugari (22), all of Harare, pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned before Gweru magistrate Ms Mildred Matuvi to answer theft by conversion charges.
The four were remanded out of custody to 11 December on $100 bail each.
One of the accused persons, Stephen Bvindi (44), died recently after a short illness.
The State, led by Mr Andrew Marimo, alleged that the four accused persons connived to steal ZAR 90 000 from their employer after they were entrusted with the money.
It is alleged that on 26 September this year, the four accused persons were given the money which was in a small bag by their manager, Mr Simon Simbararshe, in Ardbennie, Harare.
Mr Marimo said the money was handed to Bvindi who gave it to Dandajena and instructed him to place the bag which had the money behind the driver’s seat.
The court heard that when they got to Chicken Slice Mvuma, the Johannesburg-bound bus stopped so that passengers would buy some food before continuing with the long journey.
Mr Marimo told the court that it was during the brief stopover at the fast-food outlet that Bvindi claimed to had noticed that the money was missing from the back of the driver’s seat.
He then asked Dandajena the whereabouts of the bag but was told it had been placed on the bus shelf.
Bvindi looked for the bag at the said location but could not find it, prompting the bus crew to conduct a search on every passenger on the bus. However, they could not find anything.
It was later established through investigations that the four had connived to steal the money. A report was made to the police leading to their arrest.
Online Reporter