Two cops fingered in gold robbery

Victor Maphosa Herald Correspondent
A SUSPECTED thief on the police wanted list allegedly worked with two officers at Ruwangwe in Nyanga and robbed panners of 88g of refined gold.

Evans Kamombo (33) appeared before magistrate Mrs Annie Ndiraya, who remanded him in custody to March 20.

The State led by Cuthbert Bhosha opposed Kamombo’s bail saying police were yet to account for his accomplices, and that there had already been attempts to interfere with State witnesses.

“Your Worship, the accused is likely to interfere with State witnesses. The offence was committed on September 22 last year and it was reported the following day, September 23. But nothing was done to arrest the accused until March 3 this year after a complaint against the police station was raised by the complainant.

“It means the arrest was made seven months after the accused committed the offence. We strongly believe he was interfering and before the case was even brought to the court, the State received an anonymous call directing it on how to handle the case. We believe the call made before the case was brought before the court was meant to instil fear into the State.

“We take that as evidence that the accused can interfere with investigations. We feel the accused is not a suitable candidate for bail.”

Allegations are that on September 22 last year, Kamombo and his two accomplices, believed to be members of the police deployed at ZRP Ruwangwe in Nyanga, hatched a plan to rob Lovemore Chisimbe who had legal custody of the gold.

Kamombo knew that there was processed gold weighing about 87,7g that was processed for several mines at Nyanga Gold Mill and he allegedly knew that the gold was to be taken to Chisimbe for safe custody before being sold on the following day.

Kamombo allegedly took the two officers from ZRP Ruwangwe and went to Chisimbe’s house and forced their way in. They found Chisimbe’s wife Yvonne Sachiwo and demanded the refined gold while threatening to shoot her.

Sachiwo surrendered the refined gold to Kamombo and the two police officers.

The court heard that Kamombo threatened Sachiwo not to report the case since they were stealing gold belonging to the State.

Kamombo is said to have called Chisimbe and threatened him with unspecified action.