News / Regional
Suspect hangs self in cell before appearing in court
06 Jan 2014 at 12:41hrs | Views
A suspected armed robber, who was arrested last week and believed to be linked to a syndicate terrorising motorists along the Beitbridge-Harare Highway, committed suicide in police holding cells a few hours before his initial court appearance.
31-year-old Simon Chinounye of Zaka in Masvingo was arrested by his would-be victims in an alleged botched robbery on New Year's Day.
The suspect was found in possession of a pellet gun that he allegedly used in carrying out the robbery.
Acting Matabeleland South police spokesman Assistant Inspector Christopher Ngwenya said Chinounye hanged himself with a blanket between Wednesday night and Thursday morning last week.
He said the suspect was alone in the holding cells and was due for initial court appearance.
Asst Insp Ngwenya said: "His body was found hanging by police officers manning the cells on the following morning and we have since taken it to Beitbridge District Hospital for a post-mortem."
He said they had arrested Chinounye a few kilometres out of Beitbridge Town at about 4pm on January 1. He said Chinounye boarded a haulage truck earlier in the day along with other four people who were travelling to Beitbridge.
"When they got to a rail level crossing, about 8km out of the border town, the suspect opened his bag and pulled out a pellet gun, which he pointed at the driver, ordering him to surrender all the valuables in his possession.
"He then ordered another male passenger to search everyone in the truck and surrender all the valuables to him. Chinounye took a total of R3 600, US$210 and five cellphones," he said.
Asst Insp Ngwenya said the suspect then ordered the truck driver to pull off the road so that he could disembark. He said in the process, the suspected armed robber failed to open the door resulting in the driver effecting a citizen's arrest with the assistance of the other victims in the truck.
"Some motorists who were passing by noticed the fracas and joined in. They then teamed up to disarm Chinounye and handed him over to the police where a further search was conducted resulting in the recovery of six more cellphones which had been stolen from different people," said Asst Insp Ngwenya.
He said police were conducting crime awareness campaigns along major roads leading to Bulawayo and Harare following an increase in highway robberies.
31-year-old Simon Chinounye of Zaka in Masvingo was arrested by his would-be victims in an alleged botched robbery on New Year's Day.
The suspect was found in possession of a pellet gun that he allegedly used in carrying out the robbery.
Acting Matabeleland South police spokesman Assistant Inspector Christopher Ngwenya said Chinounye hanged himself with a blanket between Wednesday night and Thursday morning last week.
He said the suspect was alone in the holding cells and was due for initial court appearance.
Asst Insp Ngwenya said: "His body was found hanging by police officers manning the cells on the following morning and we have since taken it to Beitbridge District Hospital for a post-mortem."
"When they got to a rail level crossing, about 8km out of the border town, the suspect opened his bag and pulled out a pellet gun, which he pointed at the driver, ordering him to surrender all the valuables in his possession.
"He then ordered another male passenger to search everyone in the truck and surrender all the valuables to him. Chinounye took a total of R3 600, US$210 and five cellphones," he said.
Asst Insp Ngwenya said the suspect then ordered the truck driver to pull off the road so that he could disembark. He said in the process, the suspected armed robber failed to open the door resulting in the driver effecting a citizen's arrest with the assistance of the other victims in the truck.
"Some motorists who were passing by noticed the fracas and joined in. They then teamed up to disarm Chinounye and handed him over to the police where a further search was conducted resulting in the recovery of six more cellphones which had been stolen from different people," said Asst Insp Ngwenya.
He said police were conducting crime awareness campaigns along major roads leading to Bulawayo and Harare following an increase in highway robberies.
Source - Herald
