Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
A Gweru woman accused of orchestrating a US$100 000 lead block theft syndicate appeared in court over the weekend charged with theft.
The suspect Progress Shiriyapenga (29) was not asked to plead when she appeared before magistrate Ruth Moyo and was remanded in custody to today for bail considerations.
The State alleged that on March 15, the complainant engaged a transport company, Thunder Rock Logistics, to ferry 36 lead blocks from Leich Battery Recycling Company in Norton to Beira, Mozambique.
The court heard that two trucks were dispatched to collect the consignment before proceeding to Harare.
Upon arrival, Shiriyapenga allegedly connived with the drivers and hatched a plan to steal the consignment.
Shiriyapenga allegedly instructed the drivers to divert to a warehouse in Goromonzi where the 36 lead blocks were offloaded.
It is further alleged that acting in common purpose, Shiriyapenga and her accomplices later transported chrome concentrate using the same trucks to Beira, Mozambique.
However, the trucks were intercepted in Mutare while en route to Mozambique.
Investigations revealed that Shiriyapenga had been communicating with her accomplices using her mobile phone, which has since been seized and sent for forensic analysis and the State is opposing bail based on that.
The State also relies on witness testimony linking Shiriyapenga to the offence. The stolen property, valued at US$100 000, has not been recovered.
Mathew Masinge