News / Local
Bogus soldier jailed 9 years
01 Nov 2023 at 02:33hrs | Views
A nine-year jail sentence has been handed down to an armed robber who targeted businesspeople in Harare, Chinhoyi, and Chegutu while dressed in military fatigues. Calvin Gasura, aged 32, was convicted after a full trial by Harare magistrate Fadzai Matumbu-Mtombeni. He was found guilty of robbing Hazvinei Mutasa at gunpoint, stealing US$30,000 after breaking into her house in Dema. Gasura still faces separate trials for other armed robberies.
The prosecution demonstrated that on November 10, 2020, Gasura and his accomplices fired a gunshot while ordering two builders, Mulambo Mareve and Felix Bieni, to lie on the ground. He then broke into Mutasa's house, assaulted her and her wife, and took the stolen cash, mobile phones, a pistol, a CCTV server, and car keys before tying up the victims. The robbers used Mutasa's vehicle for their getaway before abandoning it in Vhera village under Chief Seke.
Matumbu-Mtombeni emphasized the gravity of Gasura's crime, which left deep emotional and psychological scars on the victims. The magistrate also noted that Gasura had already spent three years in jail following his arrest. She stated that a custodial sentence was appropriate given the seriousness of the offense and the use of a firearm during the robbery, as well as the threats made. Gasura's lawyers had argued that he was falsely accused, but Matumbu-Mtombeni found him guilty based on the evidence provided.
Matumbu-Mtombeni emphasized the gravity of Gasura's crime, which left deep emotional and psychological scars on the victims. The magistrate also noted that Gasura had already spent three years in jail following his arrest. She stated that a custodial sentence was appropriate given the seriousness of the offense and the use of a firearm during the robbery, as well as the threats made. Gasura's lawyers had argued that he was falsely accused, but Matumbu-Mtombeni found him guilty based on the evidence provided.
Source - zimkive
