Andrew
Online Reporter
TWO suspected armed robbers appeared before Mutoko Magistrate Mr Elijah Sibanda on Tuesday on allegations of stealing gold and cash valued at US$16 000.
The suspects, Wirimayi Willard Gatsi (38) and Benjamin Mathew Justine (34), were denied bail and remanded in custody to April 28.
Allegations are that on April 5, 2022, at around 9.30pm, the duo – together with three accomplices who are still at large – went to Nyarutepo Business Centre in Mutoko armed with two pistols, knobkerries and machetes.
They then approached the complainant, a businessman, at his place of residence and assaulted him several times all over the body demanding cash.
“They produced the two firearms and threatened him with death, but the complainant managed to run away, leaving the accused at his place of residence. The accused persons took a Chubb safe containing US$14 724 and 22 grammes of gold and went away using their getaway motor vehicle, an Isuzu KB 280 registration AAX4293,” reads part of the State’s outline.
Detectives from Mutoko intercepted the accused persons at the 150km peg along the Harare-Nyamapanda highway, leading to a high-speed chase.
The accused persons’ motor vehicle veered off the road and rammed into a bridge, but they managed to flee from the scene.
Detectives managed to recover the motor vehicle.
On April 13, Gatsi, who is the owner of the recovered vehicle, was arrested and he implicated his co-accused, Justine.
The suspects who are still at large are Jack Mupfawa (35), Beven Kaupfu (32) and Tendai Kambanje (42).
Nothing has been recovered to date.
Online Reporter