Econet base station robbery trio sentenced total 48 years in prison

THREE Bulawayo men who stole 2 900 litres of diesel from Econet Wireless base stations and robbed security guards at the stations have each been sentenced to 16 years in prison and fined US$600.

Themba Moyo (55) of Njube suburb, Carlton Ndlovu (44) and Tshidzani Mpofu (33) will however serve an effective 10 years in prison after Bulawayo Regional magistrate, Mrs Dambudzo Malunga suspended a year of good behavior, another year on condition of lengthy term in prison and another year considering that they are family men and breadwinners.

She further suspended three years on condition that they each restitute US$2 000 to Econet wireless for the damage that they caused.

The magistrate also fined the trio US$600 for selling diesel without a licence or permit, or they serve six months imprisonment.

In passing the sentence Mrs Malunga noted that the offenders committed heinous crimes of robbery which not only sabotaged Econet Wireless but their users as well.

She said there is credible evidence that the three committed the offence as they were found with property belonging to the victims.

“The offenders traumatised the security guards by tying them with cable wires and robbing them. They prejudiced Econet greatly by stealing large quantities of diesel. Moreover they used dangerous weapons in the commission of the crime. They deserve a term of imprisonment without the option of a fine,” she said.

Prosecutor Mr Owen Mugari, said in the early hours of 27 May, the trio arrived at an Econet base station in Rangemore suburb in a silver-grey Honda Fit driven by Mpofu.

Moyo and Ndlovu, armed with a spanner and a bolt cutter, approached the on-duty security guard, restrained him by tying his hands and feet with cable ties before stealing his two Itel cell phones.

“They force-marched the security guard to a secluded area, about 30 to 40 metres away from the base station and ordered him to lie down on the ground.”

Mr Mugari said the two broke into the base station and used spanners to remove a diesel tank drain plug and drained 900 litres of fuel. The gang transported the stolen loot to Emakhandeni suburb where it was given to fuel dealers – Mr Itayi Yekeye, Mr Dumisile Nkiwane and Ms Perseverance Hove – to sell.

“One of the accused co-operated with the police and led them to the recovery of 1 020 litres of diesel from a fuel dealer’s place of residence and a total value of US$992 was recovered,” he said.

The court was told that on the night of 3 June the trio went to another Econet base station situated along the Bulawayo/Nkayi Road armed with a spanner, a hacksaw and a bolt cutter. They used the same modus operandi of incapacitating the on-duty security guard and searched him for the presence of a panic button before tying his hands and feet with cable ties.

They stole a Techno cell phone, US$150 cash, a laptop and a pair of sneakers before draining 2 000 litres of diesel.

The stolen cell phone, lap top and sneakers were recovered from Mpofu’s home. Police recovered 620 litres of diesel from the same fuel dealers.