adminThubelihle Mabhena Court Reporter
A BULAWAYO man who was on the run for a year after he allegedly connived with three men to break into Son-Mart Supermarket, Nkulumane, where they stole $21,900, has been arrested.
Gracious Patula, 30, of Westgate, was allegedly hiding out in neighbouring South Africa.
He was arrested on Saturday when he came to enjoy the Christmas holiday in the country.
Patula appeared before provincial magistrate Sibongile Msipa facing two counts of unlawful entry and theft.
He pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody to January 7, 2015.
Prosecuting, Taurai Hondoyemoto said that on December 9, 2013 at around 1AM, Patula in the company of Livian Patula — who has already appeared in court for the offence — Nkanyiso Moyo and Bachelor Gwapedza who are still at large, proceeded to Son-Mart Supermarket driving a Honda Ballade.
“The quartet scaled over the back wall of the premises to gain entry and whilst inside they went to the cash office and broke two padlocks which secured the screen gate,” said Hondoyemoto.
They forced open a locked cash office using an unknown object and located two safes which they cut open using a grinder.
The court heard that the four stole two Nokia 1618 cellphones, a till cash spot check A5 exercise book and cash amounting to $21,867 which were inside and fled.
After the crime, Patula ran away to hide in South Africa.
“On December 30, 2013 detectives got a tipoff, arrested Livian and recovered a till cash spot check book and a grinder,” said Hondoyemoto.
On January 2, this year Livian led the detectives to his uncle Sibangani Nxumalo’s residence at Fort Rixon where they discovered the two Nokia 1618 cellphones.
The court heard that the two cellphones and cash spot check book were identified by Son-Mart Supermarket representatives, Patrick Munatsi and Raina Zwidzayi.
On Saturday last week Patula was arrested along 5th Avenue, Bulawayo.
The total value stolen is $21,900 and $40 was recovered.
Online Reporter