Zvikomborero Parafini
SUSPECTED serial robbers who were on a robbing spree stealing cars and car accessories worth millions of dollars were yesterday arraigned before the court.
Dennis Murogodo 29, Tony Mutero 32 and Banny Kawirira 25, were not asked to plead when they appeared before Harare provincial magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa.
The State alleges that on January 9, around 10:30pm, the complainant was driving his Honda Fit around the CBD and gave a lift to the three at Joina City along Julius Nyerere Way on his way to Chitungwiza.
Murogodo occupied the front passenger seat while Mutero, Kawirira and one Andrew who is still at large occupied the back seat. Along the way, Murogodo paid $8 for transport.
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The court heard that upon reaching St Patrick’s turn off in Hatfield along Chitungwiza road, Kawirira who was seated at the back suddenly grabbed the complainant by the neck and ordered him to stop.
The driver complied and he was forcibly removed from the driver’s seat and was blind-folded with a t-shirt and had his hands and legs tied together by some shoe laces.
It is alleged that Muroghodo took charge of the car and drove the car to Budiriro where they dumped the complainant who later made a police report at ZRP Budiriro.
The car was recovered dumped in Mufakose near the railway line and missing from it were a carpentry tools box, a satchel and two cellphones.
Total value stolen was RTGS$40 000 and property valued at RTGS$35 000.
In the second count, the State alleges that on January 15, the complainant was driving his Toyota Raum from town to Chitungwiza and picked up the trio who purported to be transport seekers.
Murogodo occupied the front seat while the others sat at the back and upon reaching Makoni Shopping center, Andrew who is still at large pretended to disembark then the driver proceeded with the rest of his passengers to Unit G where he was ordered to stop.
The driver complied and Andrew who had purportedly disembarked grabbed him by the neck and forced him off the seat while Mutero searched and took $2500 and a phone before dumping him at the scene.
The car was later found dumped in Glen View without the spare wheel, jack and a cellphone.
The car was valued at $36 000 and the recovered value is $30 000.
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The trio robbed the third complainant who was driving a Toyota Wish using the same modus operandi and the car was found dumped in Avondale with the battery missing.
The fourth complainant had his Honda Fit stolen the same way and the car was found in the trio’s possession.
The three were remanded in custody and were ordered to approach the High Court for bail application.
– HMETRO