A MAN who was part of a seven-men gang that raided an
illegal money changer at his Pumula home before torturing him into revealing
where he had hidden cash has been sentenced to an effective 10 years in jail.
Shepherd Ndlovu (29) was found guilty of armed robbery
charges by Bulawayo magistrate, Mr Trynos Hutawashe.
Mr Tasara Muzvarigwa (38) and his wife whose name was not
established lost US$5 930, RTGS $1 500, R33 800, two cell phones and two cars –
a Honda Fit and Toyota Hiace – to the
seven armed robbers after they raided the family’s home in April.
Ndlovu and his alleged accomplice Mkhululi Ndlovu (28) were
both facing armed robbery charges but the latter was acquitted on that charge
and found guilty on theft charges after he was found in possession of a cell
phone that was stolen during the armed robbery. The pair’s alleged accomplices
are still on the run.
The magistrate jailed Ndlovu for 10 years for armed robbery
and Mkhululi was fined $100 for theft.
“In your previous
appearances in court both of you pleaded not guilty to armed robbery charges.
As such based on evidence presented in court, the first accused person was
found not guilty of armed robbery and is therefore acquitted but he is however,
found guilty of theft charges. As such he is sentenced to pay a fine of $100 or
he goes to prison for 30 days,” said the magistrate.
“The second accused person is guilty of armed robbery. The
value of stolen property was too much and he deserves a custodial sentence.”
The magistrate sentenced him to 12 years in jail and
suspended two years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence in
the next five years.
Prosecuting, Mr Jethro Mada said sometime in April 2019 at
7.30PM, the gang raided Mr Muzvarigwa whom they suspected to be a foreign
currency dealer.
“Ndlovu in the company of six others got inside Mr
Muzvarigwa’s yard through the main gate. They gained entry into the house
through an unlocked but closed door,” said Mr Mada.
He said Mr Muzvarigwa was sleeping while his children were
watching television in the lounge when the gang stormed into his house and
ordered everyone to lie down.
“The gang tied their hands with cable tiers and curtain
cables at the same time threatening to shoot anyone who failed to comply,” said
Mr Mada.
He said the suspects demanded money from Mr Muzvarigwa and
indicated that they knew that he had a large sum of money kept in his house.
Mr Mada said Mr Muzvarigwa, who feared for his life and
safety of his family, immediately showed the robbers a bag where he kept his
money. Upon seeing that it had bond notes, they kicked Mr Muzvarigwa demanding
US dollars, the court heard.
Mr Mada said the gang ransacked the house, turning
everything upside down and found a bunch of US dollars which were stashed
inside a folded blanket on top of the wardrobe.
He said the gang tasered Mr Muzvarigwa with an electric
shocker and threatened to harm his family as they demanded more cash.
“Having ransacked the whole house, the robbers demanded car
keys and drove away in Mr Muzvarigwa’s two cars, which they later dumped along
Siyepambili Drive at Emakhandeni fly-over,” said Mr Mada.
He said police investigations led to the arrest of the
suspects. Chronicle
0 comments:
Post a Comment