News / Regional
Gamblers rip cop's stomach in protest
16 Jan 2014 at 08:08hrs | Views
FOUR Pumula men, who stabbed a policeman and almost ripped open his stomach after he had told them that gambling was illegal, yesterday appeared in the Bulawayo Magistrates' Court facing an attempted murder charge.
Julias Tshuma (27), Themba Masuku (31), Javas Ndlovu (24) and Mthokozisi Ngwenya (28) appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mark Dzira and they were remanded in custody to January 24.
Prosecutor Tinashe Dzipe told the court that on August 23 last year, the cop, Mpumelelo Siagumba, was in the company of another officer when they went to Asheys business centre in Pumula South to meet a relative from Binga.
The two entered a bottle store and after a while Siagumba's mobile phone rang and he went outside to answer it. While outside, Siagumba saw Tshuma, Masuku, Ndlovu and Ngwenya gambling on the veranda. He approached them and told them that gambling was illegal.
The four challenged and poked at Siagumba. His colleague came out of the bar to investigate after hearing some noise. He pulled Ngwenya aside, but was struck with an empty beer bottle in the process.
He pulled Siagumba and the two fled, but the gang pursued them.
After the two had run for about 200m, Siagumba discovered that he had been stabbed in the abdomen and his intestines were protruding. His colleague called an ambulance which took him to hospital.
The four were arrested on August 31 with the help of tip-offs from residents.
Julias Tshuma (27), Themba Masuku (31), Javas Ndlovu (24) and Mthokozisi Ngwenya (28) appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mark Dzira and they were remanded in custody to January 24.
Prosecutor Tinashe Dzipe told the court that on August 23 last year, the cop, Mpumelelo Siagumba, was in the company of another officer when they went to Asheys business centre in Pumula South to meet a relative from Binga.
The two entered a bottle store and after a while Siagumba's mobile phone rang and he went outside to answer it. While outside, Siagumba saw Tshuma, Masuku, Ndlovu and Ngwenya gambling on the veranda. He approached them and told them that gambling was illegal.
The four challenged and poked at Siagumba. His colleague came out of the bar to investigate after hearing some noise. He pulled Ngwenya aside, but was struck with an empty beer bottle in the process.
He pulled Siagumba and the two fled, but the gang pursued them.
After the two had run for about 200m, Siagumba discovered that he had been stabbed in the abdomen and his intestines were protruding. His colleague called an ambulance which took him to hospital.
The four were arrested on August 31 with the help of tip-offs from residents.
Source - zimbabwefocus
