dyton mupawaenda
Yeukai Karengezeka-Court Correspondent
FOUR suspects who allegedly attacked Criminal Investigations Department Harare Homicide section boss Alexander Jachi and robbed him of US$140 and a pistol were remanded in custody yesterday pending bail ruling.
Jachi, who is in critical condition at a Harare hospital, was attacked over the weekend at Jongwe Corner Bar.
The four — Munyaradzi Chatonzwa, Sydney Rande, Mark Tatenda Chingombe and Simbarashe Steven Ota appeared before Harare regional magistrate Donald Ndirowei.
The quartet is facing attempted murder, theft of a firearm and malicious damage to property charges.
The State yesterday summoned the investigating officer who submitted that the suspects should be denied bail.
He told the court that there were high chances that they would abscond given the gravity of the charges they were facing.
The officer added that the four were courageous enough to be the first ones to file a report of gunshots being fired at the police station despite knowing that they were the ones that almost killed Jachi.
The two witnesses that had been attacked also went to the police station to file a report of Jachi’s attack when they positively identified the four also making a police report.
The witnesses immediately notified the police leading to their arrest. Police searched them and recovered a pistol holster, wallet as well as IDs.
The State alleged that on September 30, Jachi was driving a gold Toyota Fortuner on his way to his residence in Chitungwiza from Highfields.
He was using Masotsha Ndhlovu Way and as he got closer to Mbuya Dorcas Hospital, he allegedly slowed down in order to turn into Seke Road when he spotted a silver VW Polo and a red Honda Fit trailing him.
The red car blocked his way and he failed to turn prompting him to continue driving along Masotsha Ndhlovu Way.
He then turned left into Seke Road towards the City Centre with the intention to make a U-turn and drive to Chitungwiza but the two vehicles continued following him.
Realising the possibility of danger, Jachi drove to Jongwe Corner for safety and as soon as he parked, Chatonzwa and Rande got out of their car and charged towards the top cop.
Jachi also disembarked from his vehicle and Chatonzwa threatened him with unspecified action while charging towards him.
Jachi then fired one warning shot into the air from a 9mm police service Taurus pistol to scare Chatonzwa away, but he continued advancing towards him.
This prompted Jachi to shoot Chatonzwa once on his left leg but instead of retreating, he advanced further and struck Jachi with an unknown object and he fell down.
The court heard how Chatonzwa’s accomplices joined in and started assaulting Jachi until he lost consciousness while bleeding profusely.
The onlookers that attempted to save Jachi were also attacked by the four alleged robbers.
They went on to search Jachi and took his wallet containing US$140, and his identity cards.
They also stole his pistol and deflated his tyres.
Jachi’s particulars were recovered from Chatonzwa.
The service pistol is yet to be recovered.
Online Reporter