Chronicle Editor
Sylvester Chiramba, Court Reporter
THREE Bulawayo men have been arrested for allegedly stealing property worth $5 600 in Cowdray Park suburb.
Nyasha Mahlupa (25), Privilege Mapuka (21) and Nkosenhle Ncube (20), all from Cowdray Park suburb, appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Lungile Ncube facing a theft charge.
The court heard that Mapuka and Mahlupa and the complainant Mr Butholenkosi Siwela are tenants at the same house.
Mr Siwela allegedly left his property under Ncube’s custody and he stole it together with the other two suspects.
Ncube, Mapuka and Mahlupa pleaded not guilty to the charge. They applied for bail with Mahlupa telling the magistrate that he was a breadwinner.
“I have a family that I provide for and it is impossible for me to do that if I am remanded in custody,” said Mahlupa.
The State represented by Mr Petros Shoko opposed the bail application on the grounds that two of the accused lived at the same house with the complainant.
“Mapuka and Mahlupa stay at the same house with the complainant and there is a risk that they might interfere with state witnesses and the investigation,” he said.
However, the magistrate granted them free bail on condition that they do not interfere with witnesses or the investigation.
They will appear again in court on December 4 for trial.
Mr Shoko told the court that on September 25, Siwela left his property under the custody of Ncube who later invited Mapuka and Mahlupa to stay with him.
“The three accused persons took advantage of the complainant’s absence and stole property worth $5 600 among which were gas bottles, a television set, two DVD recorders, a four plate stove and some cellphones,” he said .
The property stolen is valued at $5 600 and nothing was recovered.—@SlyCee10.
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