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Amanda Ncube, Sunday News Reporter
A COUPLE from Bulawayo that used a toy gun to stage-manage an armed robbery at a cigarette distribution company in the city where they stole
$20 000 has been convicted and sentenced to five years behing bars.
Azellia Madzorera (24) an accountant and her husband Craig Shamu (27) pleaded guilty when they appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Miss Adelaide Mbeure last week.
The couple connived with the husband’s brother, who is still at large and brought a toy revolver from South Africa which they used to commit the crime.
In sentencing, Miss Mbeure said: “You are both sentenced to five years in jail. Two years will be suspended on condition of good behaviour for the next five years. Two more years will be suspended on condition that you restitute Savanna Tobacco $1 087,50 each. One more year will be suspended on condition that you perform 630 hours of community service.”
Madzorera was also charged with another offence which is supplying false information to the police and is already performing 105 hours of community service at Hillside Police Station.
The sentence for her offence is four months where one month was suspended on condition of good behaviour for the next three years. The remaining three months were commuted to community service.
Prosecuting, Mr Francis Mvalo told the court that the trio crafted a plan to fake a robbery in August.
“Accused person arrived at work on 12 September and arranged money for banking. In the afternoon she called her husband who was waiting in the city centre telling him the money was ready. He took a taxi to Famona where his wife’s company is located,” he said.
Shamu took $20 675 from the safe, tied his wife’s hands and legs and covered her mouth with industrial tape. He left the toy gun on the safe and went away.
“He took the cellphone that his wife had used to call him and destroyed it to conceal evidence,” he said.
Mr Mvalo said Shamu took $6 000 of the loot and gave the rest to Marufu who took the money to Harare where it was recovered during investigations. He said $18 500 was recovered after the arrest of the couple.
Online Reporter