adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A MAN cycled away from a police station after stealing a patrol bike, a court heard. Mncedisi Ncube, 27, of Sikali in Tsholotsho, claimed that he was the owner of the bike when police officers stopped him at the gate.
Yesterday, a Plumtree magistrate – after listening to Ncube – ordered that he undergoes a mental examination by two psychiatrists before sentence can be passed.
Ncube, who stole the bike from Plumtree Police Station, had just told magistrate Gideon Ruvetsa: “That bicycle belongs to me. I spotted it from a distance and I immediately knew that it was mine. I’ve been searching for my bicycle for some time ever since it went missing from my homestead.”
Ncube will return to court on March 20 after a medical report has been compiled.
Prosecuting, Elisha Mazorodze said Ncube went to the police station on March 7 at around 9AM and stole a bike belonging to a member of the CID section, Sicelo Chimsoro.
He said the green Skyland bicycle was among several other bicycles that were parked outside the CID office veranda.
“He first checked whether its wheels had pressure and then headed towards the gate while police officers were standing close by,” said Mazorodze.
He said a police officer spotted Ncube riding off on the bicycle and inquired from his colleagues whether he was a police officer or not. Mazorodze said none of the police officers seemed to know him.
He said detectives intercepted and stopped Ncube at the gate.
The court heard that Ncube maintained that the bicycle, valued at $80, belonged to him. He said he was not aware how it had ended up at the police station.
Online Reporter