Online Reporter
IN a stunning conclusion to what could be Zimbabwe’s most prolific burglar Issa Siyabu’s streak, a judge handed him a 100-year jail sentence for being a nuisance.
Siyabu, a 36-year-old Chegutu resident, was convicted of a staggering 25 counts of unlawful entry, theft, robbery, and one particularly heinous episode of being a terrible human being.
His modus operandi was simple, if not sophisticated: identify high-value residential targets around Borrowdale and Mount Pleasant, perform an uninvited entry (breaking in) and steal everything that was not nailed down.
He stole everything in sight — laptops, mobile phones and, quite bizarrely and inexplicably, official documents.
However, the real pièce de résistance (or major highlight) of his criminal catalogue was Count 19, where he brandished his knife in the victim’s face, before forcibly undressing and raping her.
Not content, Siyabu also took off with US$750.
His downfall began, as it does for so many, when, obviously in haste, he left behind one valuable clue — a fingerprint.
In typical Sherlock Holmes style, police had the easiest of tasks locating him, and he sang like a canary.
He also escorted police on a “gloat-and-tell” tour to the various crime scenes.
Owing to his crime repertoire, the
court had no option but sentence him to 100 years.
After suspending 10 years on condition he does not reoffend for five years (a bold gamble, given his new address), and taking into consideration that some of his sentences will run concurrently, Siyabu will effectively serve 50 years behind bars.
But wait!
The trial is not quite over.
Siyabu has pleaded not guilty to four additional counts, presumably arguing that while he admits to the 25 other jobs, he has standards and a brand to protect, and simply will not be associated with subpar allegations.
The case continues.
