News / National
Suspected armed robber weeps in court
27 Mar 2013 at 07:23hrs | Views
A suspected armed robber wept in court last week and took off his t-shirt showing a bruised back to the magistrate hearing his case, accusing the police of ill-treating him.
Sweetwell Munyonga is reportedly part of a three-man gang that fled to Botswana after committing a spate of armed robberies involving more than US$30 000 in Harare.
Munyonga, who is facing three counts of armed robbery, last week told magistrate Mr Donald Ndirowei that he was severely assaulted by homicide detectives at Harare Central.
Mr Ndirowei ordered prosecutor Ms Junior Mugebe to investigate the alleged assault and advised Munyonga to seek treatment at remand hospital.
Munyonga was not asked to plead to robbery charges and was remanded in custody to April 9.
Mr Ndirowei advised him to seek bail at the High Court.
Munyonga escaped on October 5 last year when his accomplice Shame Mazhambe was arrested, but was also arrested on his return.
According to State papers, from August 2012 to October 3 last year, Munyonga, Shame Mazhambe and another unknown assailant pounced on three families armed with a knife and borehole pipes threatening to kill their victims.
They robbed them of money and cellphones. On August 27 last year, Lucy Zishiri (46) was seated in her lounge having supper when Munyonga and his accomplices suddenly sneaked in wearing masks.
They threatened to kill her and tied her family with phone cables and neck ties and ordered Lucy to take them to the safe in the bedroom.
The trio took US$20 000, R18 000 and a Blackberry cellphone before locking her inside.
After committing the crime, they sped off in their car, a Grand Hiace.
On September 28, they stormed the house of paralysed Gary Bruce Bell wielding a knife and iron rods.
They took US$400, a cellphone and ipod and went away.
It is alleged that on October 3, armed with a screw driver, two bricks and a pair of scissors they ambushed Sharon Mason at around 7pm.
They tied her and her son Campbell with television cables before they ransacked the house and took away US$11 500 and a digital camera among other things all valued at US$13 780. Munyonga was arrested on March 20 when detectives were tipped he was back in the country.
Sweetwell Munyonga is reportedly part of a three-man gang that fled to Botswana after committing a spate of armed robberies involving more than US$30 000 in Harare.
Munyonga, who is facing three counts of armed robbery, last week told magistrate Mr Donald Ndirowei that he was severely assaulted by homicide detectives at Harare Central.
Mr Ndirowei ordered prosecutor Ms Junior Mugebe to investigate the alleged assault and advised Munyonga to seek treatment at remand hospital.
Munyonga was not asked to plead to robbery charges and was remanded in custody to April 9.
Mr Ndirowei advised him to seek bail at the High Court.
Munyonga escaped on October 5 last year when his accomplice Shame Mazhambe was arrested, but was also arrested on his return.
According to State papers, from August 2012 to October 3 last year, Munyonga, Shame Mazhambe and another unknown assailant pounced on three families armed with a knife and borehole pipes threatening to kill their victims.
They robbed them of money and cellphones. On August 27 last year, Lucy Zishiri (46) was seated in her lounge having supper when Munyonga and his accomplices suddenly sneaked in wearing masks.
They threatened to kill her and tied her family with phone cables and neck ties and ordered Lucy to take them to the safe in the bedroom.
The trio took US$20 000, R18 000 and a Blackberry cellphone before locking her inside.
After committing the crime, they sped off in their car, a Grand Hiace.
On September 28, they stormed the house of paralysed Gary Bruce Bell wielding a knife and iron rods.
They took US$400, a cellphone and ipod and went away.
It is alleged that on October 3, armed with a screw driver, two bricks and a pair of scissors they ambushed Sharon Mason at around 7pm.
They tied her and her son Campbell with television cables before they ransacked the house and took away US$11 500 and a digital camera among other things all valued at US$13 780. Munyonga was arrested on March 20 when detectives were tipped he was back in the country.
Source - TH
