News / National
Duo Get Three for Attempting to Escape from Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison
03 Mar 2012 at 07:22hrs | Views
ALBERT Mugove Matapo and armed robber Lucky Mhungu were on Friday sentenced to an effective three years imprisonment for attempting to escape from lawful custody.
The duo tried to escape from Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison in April 2010. Mhungu is already serving for armed robbery.
Mugove and Mhungu pleaded not guilty to attempting to escape from lawful custody when they appeared before regional magistrate Mr Morgen Nemadire but were convicted because of overwhelming evidence.
Nemadire sentenced them to five years imprisonment of which two years were suspended on condition of good behaviour. Mhungu's sentence will, however, run concurrently with the 12-years-jail-term he is serving for armed robbery.
Nemadire said the two had spent considerable time in prison. Their lawyer, Mr Charles Warara, the duo pleaded for leniency saying their attempted escape was amateurish and there was no likelihood that they could succeed. The lawyer submitted that Matapo was a first offender. At the time of his arrest Matapo was running a number of businesses that include a travel consultancy and a transport company.
"He has interests in establishing a school and had purchased land in Ruwa for that purpose," he submitted.
Matapo, said the lawyer, was a useful member of society who once taught at Ruwa Rehabilitation College. He still intends to pursue a political career if given a suspended sentence," he said.
The duo tried to escape from Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison in April 2010. Mhungu is already serving for armed robbery.
Mugove and Mhungu pleaded not guilty to attempting to escape from lawful custody when they appeared before regional magistrate Mr Morgen Nemadire but were convicted because of overwhelming evidence.
Nemadire sentenced them to five years imprisonment of which two years were suspended on condition of good behaviour. Mhungu's sentence will, however, run concurrently with the 12-years-jail-term he is serving for armed robbery.
Nemadire said the two had spent considerable time in prison. Their lawyer, Mr Charles Warara, the duo pleaded for leniency saying their attempted escape was amateurish and there was no likelihood that they could succeed. The lawyer submitted that Matapo was a first offender. At the time of his arrest Matapo was running a number of businesses that include a travel consultancy and a transport company.
"He has interests in establishing a school and had purchased land in Ruwa for that purpose," he submitted.
Matapo, said the lawyer, was a useful member of society who once taught at Ruwa Rehabilitation College. He still intends to pursue a political career if given a suspended sentence," he said.
Source - TH
