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Crime Reporter
THREE armed robbers who were masquerading as police officers and terrorising residents in and around Bindura have been jailed for effective 38 years each for 10 counts of robberies.
The three Ladma Mutesa (39), Tapiwa Nyakudya (31), and Sande Saini (32) appeared before the Bindura Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
According to the State, the trio and their accomplices identified as Mike Mapona also known as Murefu, Shoti and Fungai who are still at large pounced on the complainants’ houses in Nyakudya Mazarura Village under Chief Masembura in Bindura on April 21, 2024.
They used iron bars to forcibly open the back door to gain entry into the main house where six complainants were sleeping.
Armed with iron bars and wooden logs, the gang manhandled the complainants and tied their hands with brick force wire.
They ordered the complainants to surrender their cellphones before they ransacked the house and took an assortment of groceries, household goods and US$350.
The following night, the gang pounced on the second house in the same village and robbed three occupants of their valuables.
They had knocked at the door and introduced themselves as police officers and after the complainants had opened the door, they manhandled and force-marched them to the main house where they forcibly took their cellphones.
One of the complainants who was not home when the gang arrived, got home driving a Toyota Quantum, and the gang ambushed him while assaulting him with fists.
They dragged him to a pigsty where they tied his hands and legs to a pole. They took his cellphone, before they drove off in his vehicle.
The vehicle developed a mechanical fault and they dumped it 2km away from the house where it was recovered.
Investigations by the police led to the arrest of Ladma Mutesa following a tip-off and he led police to Tapiwa Nyakudya and Sande Saini.
The total value of the stolen property was US$15 450 and property valued at US$13 450 was recovered.
Online Reporter