Paul Makamelo, Kelvin Zimomo, Sign Makamelo, Partially Makamelo, Tonderai Norest Chibvongodze, Christopher Sithole and Innocent Kasu were arraigned before the Harare Magistrates’ Court facing robbery charges.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe, on the 29th of November 2022 at around 1900 hours, the complainant James Abrahams (89) was in his bedroom with his wife when four of the accused persons pounced on him, armed with knives and iron bars.
They demanded money and started ransacking the room.
The complainant told them that he did not have money wherein one of the accused persons kicked him and instructed him to sit down. One of the accused persons produced a nylon cable which they used to tie the complainant and his wife before instructing them to sit on the floor.
Some of the accused persons picked up the safe which was in the room from the floor and put it on top of a chair which was in the bedroom whilst the others were assaulting the complainant and his wife.
The accused persons then untied the complainant’s wife and ordered her to retrieved the keys for the safe.
She did as ordered and handed them over to one of the accused persons. The accused persons failed to open the safe and took it away. The safe contained USD55 000, gold and other valuables.
The accused persons locked the complainant and his wife inside the bedroom and left.
A police report was made and investigations led to the arrest of the accused persons. The total value stolen was USD62 415 whilst only USD6 000 was recoverd.
The accused persons were each sentenced to 12 years imprisonment.
