Online ReporterPaul Pindani in CHINHOYI
THREE armed robbers, who have been terrorising Chinhoyi residents, have been jailed five years each.
The trio of Norest Gabarinocheka, 44, Tryson Madhavha, 27, and Terrence Makumbe, 21, appeared before Chinhoyi magistrate, Ignatius Mugova.
The fourth accused, Whatmore Chijariri,32, was acquitted.
Magistrate Mugova sentenced each of the trio to five years behind bars.
Prosecuting, Rumbidzai Gutu, told the court that on December 14 2020, at about 2am, the trio, acting in cahoots with Oliver Makuwerere and Thomas Mhlanga, who are still at large, entered House No. 22092, Pure Gold Housing Cooperative, owned by Ndaizivei Makoni, with the intention to rob her.
The second complainant in this case is Linnet Chipundu, who is Makoni’s maid. Upon arrival at the house, they broke the entrance door, awakened the occupants and gained entry.
While inside, they proceeded to Makoni’s bedroom where they found the door locked and they broke it with an axe.
She was severely assaulted by the robbers, who were using a metal object, as they demanded cash.
They searched her purse and took away US$10 and further assaulted her demanding more cash.
The gang demanded her car keys and mobile phones.
They took her to Chipundu’s spare bedroom, where they assaulted the maid demanding information about where Makoni kept her money.
The robbers locked up the two in the spare bedroom, ransacked the whole house and took an assortment of property.
The stolen property was taken to their accomplice, Makuwerere, who is still at large, where they shared the loot.
They then drove Makoni’s vehicle and dumped it near Gadzema Library along the Chinhoyi-Chegutu Highway.
A report was made to the police on the same night.
Chipundu sought treatment at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital where a doctor examined her and concluded the injuries were caused by a blunt object and were quite serious.
On January 7 2021, Madhava and Makumbe were arrested in Gadzema, in connection with the case, and other cases, which occurred in Gokwe.
An identification parade was conducted on January 8, 2021, in which Madhava was identified by Makoni and Makumbe by Chipundu.
On February 5 2021, Chipundu found out that her Facebook account had been tampered with and was now bearing Chijariri’s picture on her profile.
On February 13, Chijariri was arrested in Kadoma, and led police to the recovery of the cellphone from Wilson Mudzikati of Rimuka, who had bought the gadget.
Chijariri implicated Gabarinocheka whom he claimed had sold him the phone.
Makoni positively identified her recovered vehicle while Chipundu identified her cellphone.
The total value of stolen property from Makoni is US$6295 and US$5400 was recovered.
Mathew Masinge