Car jacker appears in court

Yeukai Karengezeka

Court Correspondent

One of the suspected robbers who stole a Toyota Fortuner worth about US$60 000 at gun point from a car sale in Avondale, Harare on Monday, has appeared in court.

Thomas Singawo (23) together with his three accomplices who are still at large, allegedly approached a security guard manning the car sale around 1 am and told him that they had been sent by the owner to collect a Toyota Fortuner.

The guard refused to open the gate until he verified with the owner of the vehicle first.

Suddenly, Singawo produced a pistol, forcefully opened the gate and force-marched the guard to the house where they stole a television set and the Toyota Fortuner car keys that were in the dining room.

Singawo and his accomplices loaded the television set onto the stolen car and drove away. The guard reported the robbery to ZRP Avondale.

Singawo was arrested while in possession of the stolen motor vehicle and led detectives to the recovery of a vehicle diagnostic machine from Tafadzwa Marumbe, who bought it from him.

Singawo appeared before Harare regional magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa, who told him that only the High Court could grant bail to a suspected robber.

Singawo was remanded to November 15.

Mr Pardon Dziva appeared for the State.