admin
Charleen Ndlovu, Sunday News Reporter
POLICE in Bulawayo last week arrested a notorious gang of three linked to a spate of armed robbery cases and recovered property valued at $3 540.
The three, Talent Tshange (22), Wayne Sinyalo (24) and Bernard Mpofu (25) have since appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Adelaide Mbeure facing multiple counts of robbery and carjacking.
The State’s case as presented by the prosecutor, Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo is that on 10 July at 2.30am the trio hired Mr Noel Matsayire (30) who was driving his Toyota Raum from Pub Lagondola to Thokozani Flats in Mzilikazi. The three paid a $3 fare which they had agreed on before jumping into the car, with two of the accused persons jumping in the back seat while the other took the front seat. When they arrived at Thokozani Flats, the court heard, the two at the back grabbed Matsayire and twisted his neck demanding cash and valuables.
One of the accused persons is said to have produced a kitchen knife and threatened to stab the driver if he dared resist. The court was also told that the accused person who was sitting in the front joined in the assault and continued to twist Matsayire’s neck while the others searched his pockets. The trio got away with cash amounting to $60 and a Nokia cellphone.
The trio then forced Matsayire out of the car and drove off towards Luveve Road, leaving Matsayire at the scene. The court further heard that the trio started pirating using the stolen car where they robbed one Mr Siphiwe Marvin Tshabangu (57) who they had offered a lift at Nketa 7 turn-off.
It is the State’s case that before dropping off Tshabangu at his home in Nketa one of the accused persons got out of the car and grabbed Tshabangu from the back and threatened him with a kitchen knife before robbing him of his Samsung cellphone and green jacket all valued at $250.
They drove off and picked Mr Achem Mpala (65) who was going to town at Nketa turn-off. They searched him and took from him a black Alcatel cellphone and black Nokia and some of his possessions valued at $130.
They then dumped the car in town and went away but they ran out of luck when they were arrested on different dates after police used their fingerprints.
@NdlovuCharleen
Online Reporter