Online Reporter
Peter Matika [email protected]
THE net is closing in on the Vumbunu brothers, accused of being part of the gang behind Bulawayo’s audacious US$4,4 million Ecobank cash robbery, with South African authorities now finalising their extradition to Zimbabwe.
The brothers, Elijah Temayi and Abraham Vumbunu, were arrested in South Africa and are expected to be brought to Zimbabwe once the remaining legal procedures have been completed.
Their impending extradition could unlock the stalled prosecution of one of the suspects already before the courts, Bhekani Mlilo, who was recently removed from remand after spending 10 months in custody without a trial date being set.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday confirmed that the extradition process was nearing completion.
“It’s a work in progress. Authorities in South Africa are just finalising the process. It’s only a matter of time till they are brought to Zimbabwe to face the law,” said Comm Nyathi.
Mlilo, who was extradited from Botswana last year, was last Friday removed from remand by Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Lungile Ncube after the State failed to secure his further remand pending the arrival of his alleged accomplices.
The State had sought to have Mlilo further remanded to September 28, but Mr Ncube ruled that the accused could not continue languishing in custody because of delays in extraditing the other suspects.
“The accused has been in remand prison for 10 months with no trial date being allocated.
“The accused cannot continue being on remand for the failed extradition of the other suspects. Further remand is refused. When other suspects have been extradited, the State will proceed by way of summons for commencement of a trial,” ruled Mr Ncube.
Mlilo was represented by Mr Tawanda Tavengwa of Mvundla Tavengwa Solicitors, while Ms Rumbi Gwishiri represented the State.
The State is expected to proceed by way of summons once the remaining accused persons have been extradited and brought before the Zimbabwean courts.
Mlilo is facing an armed robbery charge arising from the October 3 heist in which more than US$4,4 million was allegedly stolen from Ecobank branches in Bulawayo.
According to the State, at about 3.30PM on the day in question, Mlilo allegedly acted in concert with several accomplices, including the Vumbunu brothers, Simon Xola Ngcobo, Menzeli Mpofu, Khalid Ntimen and others who are still at large.
The alleged gang is accused of using a white Ford Ranger bearing South African registration plates in the daring operation.
The vehicle was allegedly registered in the name of Nomsa Aneline Zingela before the suspects allegedly replaced its South African number plates with Zimbabwean registration plates.
They allegedly drove to Ecobank’s branch at the corner of 9th Avenue and Fife Street, where they intercepted a Safeguard cash-in-transit vehicle.
Armed with guns, the suspects allegedly apprehended the security guards and held them hostage.
“They apprehended the guards and held them hostage, threatening to shoot them if they resisted. The accused persons took four metal boxes containing cash. Three of the boxes were from the
Ecobank branch at 9th Avenue and Fife Street, containing US$3 983 500. They also took three guns from Safeguard security guards,” said Ms Gwishiri.
The gang allegedly proceeded to Ecobank’s Bradfield branch, where another cash box containing US$465 500 was allegedly taken.
“The accused loaded the boxes into their getaway vehicle and fled the scene,” said Ms Gwishiri.
The total haul from the two branches exceeded US$4,4 million, making the case one of the biggest alleged cash robberies to come before the Bulawayo courts.
The alleged gang’s use of a vehicle with South African registration plates and the subsequent flight of some of the suspects across Zimbabwe’s borders resulted in investigations stretching across several jurisdictions.
The arrest of the Vumbunu brothers in South Africa is therefore regarded as a major breakthrough, with their extradition expected to enable the State to consolidate its case and move towards trial.
Meanwhile, Mlilo remains before the courts in a separate case in which he is accused of masterminding a break-in at a Nedbank branch in Bulawayo.
Nearly US$300 000, more than R2,4 million and five gold coins were allegedly stolen during the break-in.
The Nedbank trial has already commenced, with two State witnesses having testified.
However, proceedings have stalled after a key State witness was allegedly not served with a subpoena to attend court and testify.
For now, Mlilo is no longer on remand in the Ecobank robbery case. However, the matter is expected to return to court through summons once the extradition of the Vumbunu brothers and other outstanding suspects has been concluded.
