Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku
A GANG of three robbers, including one who pretended to be a police officer, attacked a teacher in the city centre, pepper sprayed him and stole his cellphone and US$350 in a night-time ambush.
Bulile Lusinga, who works at Mthombowezizwe Primary School, was heading home when the robbers pounced.
Brian Ncube (22), Raymond Sibanda (28) and Bekithemba Sibanda (30), appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Maxwell Ncube facing a robbery charge. They all pleaded not guilty, claiming they were not even in Bulawayo on the day of the attack.
However, their luck ran out after police arrested them during a patrol and conducted an identification parade. Lusinga was able to positively point them out as the men who attacked him.
During the trial, the court heard that the incident happened on 20 July at around 8.30pm, near the corner of 6th Avenue and Lobengula Street. Lusinga was walking home when Ncube approached him, claiming he was a police officer stationed at Bulawayo Central Police Station.
He demanded to see the teacher’s identity card. While Lusinga was in the process of taking it out, Raymond and Bekithemba suddenly appeared from behind. The trio struck him with an unknown object before pepper spraying his face, leaving him dazed and struggling to see.
With their victim disoriented, the robbers grabbed his satchel containing the cellphone and US$350, then fled into the night.
They might have thought they had pulled off the perfect crime, but their escape was short-lived. Police officers on patrol later tracked them down and arrested them.
At the end of the trial, the trio was found guilty. Each was sentenced to six months imprisonment. One month was suspended on condition of good behaviour, while another month was suspended on condition they each contribute towards the restitution of the US$350 and the stolen cellphone. This leaves them with four months each to serve behind bars.
