News / National
Lupane man jail for armed robbery
29 Jun 2013 at 06:31hrs | Views
A 25-YEAR-OLD Lupane man was yesterday sentenced to an effective seven years in jail for teaming up with two South Africans who are still at large to rob workers at three city outlets of their cellphones and undisclosed amount of money at gunpoint.
Jacob Washington Ndebele of Sibombo village in Lupane district was convicted on his own plea by Bulawayo regional magistrate, Mr Collet Ncube.
The prosecutor, Mr Robin Mukura, said between 24 and 31 March, Ndebele connived with two South Africans who are still at large and went to two supermarkets and a beer garden where they robbed the complainants of their cellphones and money at gunpoint.
The court was told that on 24 March, Ndebele and his accomplices went to Better Future Supermarket in Bulawayo and found the workers preparing to close the shop.
They ordered everyone to lie down before robbing the complainants of their cellphones and money.
On 29 March at about 9.30pm, they proceeded to Umhambi Beer Garden in Njube suburb and found the bar lady taking stock.
Ndebele went to the counter under the guise that he wanted to buy beer.
He pulled out a pistol and the woman fled during which Ndebele took bottles of spirits before fleeing from the scene.
The court was told that on 31 March at 7am, Ndebele went to Cool Land Supermarket in Cowdray Park where he pretended to be enquiring about the prices of meat pies.
Ndebele pulled out a pistol and ordered workers as well as customers to lie down.
He ordered the shop manager to open the cash register and surrender all the cash to him and the complainant complied. However, one of the female customers resisted the order to lie down prompting Ndebele to fire a shot in the air before he took to his heels.
The woman gave chase and she managed to strike Ndebele on the buttock and he fell down.
Members of the public apprehended Ndebele and took him to the police station leading to his arrest.
Jacob Washington Ndebele of Sibombo village in Lupane district was convicted on his own plea by Bulawayo regional magistrate, Mr Collet Ncube.
The prosecutor, Mr Robin Mukura, said between 24 and 31 March, Ndebele connived with two South Africans who are still at large and went to two supermarkets and a beer garden where they robbed the complainants of their cellphones and money at gunpoint.
The court was told that on 24 March, Ndebele and his accomplices went to Better Future Supermarket in Bulawayo and found the workers preparing to close the shop.
They ordered everyone to lie down before robbing the complainants of their cellphones and money.
On 29 March at about 9.30pm, they proceeded to Umhambi Beer Garden in Njube suburb and found the bar lady taking stock.
Ndebele went to the counter under the guise that he wanted to buy beer.
He pulled out a pistol and the woman fled during which Ndebele took bottles of spirits before fleeing from the scene.
The court was told that on 31 March at 7am, Ndebele went to Cool Land Supermarket in Cowdray Park where he pretended to be enquiring about the prices of meat pies.
Ndebele pulled out a pistol and ordered workers as well as customers to lie down.
He ordered the shop manager to open the cash register and surrender all the cash to him and the complainant complied. However, one of the female customers resisted the order to lie down prompting Ndebele to fire a shot in the air before he took to his heels.
The woman gave chase and she managed to strike Ndebele on the buttock and he fell down.
Members of the public apprehended Ndebele and took him to the police station leading to his arrest.
Source - chronicle
