Prisoner attempts suicide after escape plan is busted

IN a daring experience worthy of a movie, a distraught suspected armed robber allegedly caused mayhem at Khami Remand Prison when he went into a trance and attempted to commit suicide after his well-orchestrated plot to escape from jail was busted by prison authorities.

The foiled suicide attempt by the alleged armed robber Richard Fambirayi was allegedly a protest against prison authorities for "quarantining" him from his accomplices after reports leaked to them that they were planning to escape from remand prison.

Fambirayi who is believed to be a ring leader in pending armed robbery and attempted murder cases at the Bulawayo Regional Court where he is jointly charged with Bruce Ziyambi and Daniel Nkosi is alleged to have attempted to end his life by repeatedly hitting himself against the prison walls.

The incident, which left prison officers and inmates shocked, happened on Friday last week.

Reports from the prison authorities were that officers had a torrid time stopping the seemingly possessed Fambirayi from taking his life. They reportedly chained him with handcuffs and leg irons.

Circumstances of the incident which prison authorities described as "unusual" were contained in a letter which the officer-in-charge of Khami Remand Prison wrote to court officials outlining how Fambirayi injured himself in his failed bid to take his own life.

The letter, the officer said was to act as a defence in the event that Fambirayi was to lie to the court about injuries he sustained while trying to kill himself that he was beaten by prison officers.

"We write this letter to notify you that the above mentioned inmate (Richard Fambirayi) threatened to commit suicide after being separated from his coaccused. We received information pertaining to the effect that the above mentioned together with his co-accused Bruce Ziyambi, Joseph Daniel Nkosi were planning to escape from lawful custody.

"On 19 September 2014 at around 1730 hours and during lock up as a precautionary measure we decided to separate him the ring leader from others from "B" hall to "A" hall. All hell broke loose as he became hysterical and threatened to commit suicide by banging himself on the wall. I ordered prison officers to restrain him using mechanical restraints (handcuffs and leg irons) . . .hence we assume he might lie against prison officers claiming he was beaten," reads part of the letter from a chief superintendent S Mpofu.

Allegations against Fambirayi and his accomplices are that on 23 July last year they hatched a plan to rob Najama Lunat when they armed themselves with guns and went to her city flat situated at 40A Josiah Tongogara Street which they had visited the previous day under the pretext that they were Zesa workers.

It is reported that upon arrival they forcibly gained entry and force marched two domestic workers Cecillia Khanyandela and Annie Nyoni at gun point to the second floor where they found the complainant.

The alleged ring leader Fambirayi reportedly opened the kitchen drawers demanding cash from Lunat who indicated that she did not have any money with her.

Fambirayi force-marched her to her bedroom where he ransacked it looking for money and found $20 and a pillow case loaded with jewellery. He took the $20 and the jewellery and went away.

Their luck ran out when detectives who had swiftly reacted to the scene made a follow up and managed to apprehend Nkosi who had tried to run away but failed to do so after he was shot on the thigh.

Investigations by the police later led to the arrest of Fambirayi and Ziyambi leading to the recovery of three revolvers which were allegedly used in a spate of armed robbery and attempted murder cases. The trial continues.