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US$720,000 robbers face fresh charges

by Staff reporter
03 Jun 2024 at 02:54hrs | Views
Two suspected robbers involved in a US$720,000 heist at a financial institution earlier this year are back in court facing new charges of robbing an iPhone dealer.

Tafadzwa Richard Marondera (21) and Luke Zinyengere (28) appeared last Friday before Harare senior magistrate Mrs. Marehwanazvo Gofa on robbery charges.

The duo, already on remand pending trial, was denied bail and advised to seek recourse at the High Court. They were ordered to return to court on June 13.

The complainant in this case is Tinashe Kelvin Leon Chikove.

Prosecutor Mr. Lancelot Mutsokoti alleged that on January 22 at around 8 PM, Marondera and Zinyengere, along with accomplices still at large, robbed Chikove, a second-hand cell phone dealer at Ximex Mall in Harare.

The suspects, armed with a .22 rifle and a Mod 92 pistol, ambushed Chikove as he returned home from town. Chikove, who was driving a blue Honda Fit with Tinotenda Gatsi as a passenger, was confronted at his gate.

They demanded bags containing iPhones, and Gatsi handed over one bag with various models. They then assaulted Chikove and stole another bag containing several iPhones, including two iPhone 15 Plus, an iPhone 13 ProMax, an iPhone 14 ProMax, two iPhone 13, an iPhone XS Max, an iPhone 14 Pro, and an iPhone 14.

Chikove attempted to resist, but the robbers fired shots, missing him. They dragged him about 90 meters from the gate and shot him in the left thigh before fleeing.

Chikove alerted his friends, who took him to ZRP Hatfield to file a report. Police responded, recovering four 9mm spent cartridges, two .22mm LR spent cartridges, one 9mm live cartridge, and one .22mm LR live cartridge at the scene.

Chikove received initial medical treatment at Mbuya Dorcas Hospital and was later transferred to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.

Source - the herald