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A HARARE man appeared in court yesterday charged with the US$42 000 S and M Bricks robbery.
Norest Mubaiwa, 34, was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Stanford Mambanje, who remanded him in custody to March 16.
He was advised to approach the High Court for bail considerations.
Mubaiwa is facing three counts of armed robbery.
The court heard that on October 19 last year, Mubaiwa and his seven accomplices still at large, went to S and M Bricks, in two Honda Fits intending to stage a robbery.
They produced pistols and instructed everyone at the premises to lie down.
They demanded firearms and money, and tied the employees’ limbs.
The gang ransacked the offices and took US$42 000, which was in a metal cylinder.
They also stole US$1 110 from a wallet they found in the main office, a Chinese passport, a driver’s licence, a cellphone and a tablet.
They deflated tyres of a Ford Ranger parked outside the office and fled.
In the second count, Mubaiwa allegedly ganged up with Petros Mubaiwa, Tongai Magoto, and three accomplices still at large, and went to Zim Steel along Kirkman Road.
Petros and Magoto were dressed in army uniform and they claimed to be from the army.
They said they wanted to search for firearms at the premises.
They threatened the employees and tied them with a rope.
They ransacked the office and stole US$10 000, three laptops and several cellphones.
They also stole a CCTV server and demanded the complainant’s car keys. They loaded their loot into the Benz C200 and drove off.
On count three, the court heard that on June 20 last year, the complainant was in her house watching television in the morning, with her grandchild, when the gang walked into her yard wearing blue work suits.
She locked the door and slightly opened the window to talk to them.
Online Reporter