A MAN who admitted to being part of a gang of thieves who
allegedly broke into several houses in Bulawayo and stole household goods worth
nearly $120 000, yesterday stunned a packed courtroom when he said the other
three people who were arrested with him were not his accomplices.
There was a moment of silence at the Western Commonage
Magistrate Courts when Tawanda Gumbomunda (23) said police had arrested the
wrong people as his accomplices were still at large.
The other three people who were arrested with Gumbomunda
are Prince Ncube (19), Qinisani Tshuma (24) and Gabriel Ncube (25).
The four allegedly broke into Mr Geneva Sibanda’s home in
North End suburb while he was away in Victoria Falls and stole household
property worth $46 000.
Gumbomunda told magistrate Ms Tancy Dube that he did not
know the men he was jointly charged with.
“Your Worship, l plead guilty to unlawful entry and theft
but to my surprise the men that l committed the offences with are not here. I
don’t know the men I’m being jointly charged with,” he said.
Ncube, Tshuma and Gabriel pleaded not guilty to theft and
unlawful entry and the magistrate remanded them in custody to October 15 for
continuation of trial.
The trio told the court that they had previously admitted
to committing the crime because police officers had assaulted them and they
feared being assaulted again.
However, the investigating officer, Constable John Mugabe,
said Gumbomunda was lying.
“Your Worship, accused Number One is trying to protect his
friends. They stay together in Cowdray Park that’s where I found them with
their house fully packed with stolen property. They have many pending cases of
unlawful entry and theft,” he said.
“During the same month, the gang broke into another house
in the same suburb and stole household property worth $69 000 when the owner
was away in Germany.”
Prosecuting, Mr Tapiwa Solani said on August 22 this year
at around 12AM, the gang allegedly broke down Mr Sibanda’s door to gain entry
into his house and stole property worth $49 000. “While inside the house, the
accused persons stole a refrigerator, PA system, four suitcases with clothes,
an electric jar, microwave, speakers, 35-inch television set, television stand,
21 plates, two DVD players and blankets,” he said.
During the same month, the gang proceeded to another house
in the same suburb where they took a water pump, two refrigerators, carpets,
curtains, two television sets, clothes, garden chairs and cell phones while the
owner of the house was in Germany.
Mr Solani said the gang was caught by Mr Sibanda’s
neighbour stealing property and he alerted the police.
“Mr Sibanda’s neighbour heard some noises at the
complainant’s place and went to see what was happening. He saw a silver Toyota
vehicle parked at the complainant’s gate and the accused persons were busy
loading the stolen property. When they realised that they had been seen, they
immediately drove off,” he said.
The suspects were arrested while they were trying to sell
the stolen property in Cowdray Park suburb after an anonymous tip-off.
Chronicle
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