daniel chigunwePaul Pindani in CHINHOYI
AN eight-member gang, which used a signal jamming device to disable a GPS system on a Beira-bound freightliner and stole copper cathodes, appeared in court yesterday.
The Airo Transport Company truck driver, Isheunesu Chihava, 52, Silas Nyoni, 36, David Guveya, 44, Nyukai Chiramba, 37, Edward Tichaona Mapiye, 40, Tinashe Nyamadzawo, 35, Lovemore Mabota, 53 and Tadiwa Makete, 19, appeared before Chinhoyi provincial magistrate Langton Ndokera on theft charges.
Chihava and Nyoni were denied bail while the other six were granted $50 000 each.
The eight will return to court on March 24 for routine remand.
Prosecutor Tafadzwa Rwodzi told the court that on March 8, Chihava drove into Zimbabwe, through the Chirundu One Stop Border, with his truck loaded with 35 180kgs of copper.
The copper was from DRC in transit to Beira, Mozambique.
The court heard that when Chihava reached Lion’s Den, he communicated with the gang members and hatched a plan to steal the copper.
They met at 11 Miles where they disabled the mobile track, using a signal jamming device, and the truck could no longer be located on the GPS system.
They drove to Guveya’s residence where they offloaded the loot.
They drove the truck to Chegutu where they dumped it 5kms along the Chegutu-Chakari Road.
The 35 180kg copper cathodes were valued at US$316 299 and was recovered.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter