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Man accused of robbing elderly woman
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A 55-year-old man from New Lobengula suburb in Bulawayo appeared in court facing charges of robbery after allegedly stealing over US$2,000 and a significant amount of South African rand from a 65-year-old woman.
Bernard Phiri was arraigned before Bulawayo magistrate Mrs. Lenia Khumalo Moyo, who remanded him in custody until December 17. Phiri is accused of robbing Mrs. Getrude Ngwenya of US$2,258 and R12,930 in August 2024.
Prosecutor Ms. Cathrine Kuzu told the court that the robbery occurred around 7 PM when Phiri and two accomplices, still at large, broke into Mrs. Ngwenya's house.
"The suspects were armed with knives and wore black jackets and masks. They demanded money, alleging Mrs. Ngwenya had received it from club members for safekeeping," said Ms. Kuzu.
Initially, Mrs. Ngwenya denied having any money. However, one accomplice assaulted her, produced a knife, and placed it against her neck. She was then strangled with a rope and threatened with death. Fearing for her life, Mrs. Ngwenya revealed the location of a hidden cash box under a sack of potatoes in her kitchen.
The suspects fled with the cash, leaving Mrs. Ngwenya traumatized.
In a related case, a 33-year-old man from Nkulumane, Mehluli Ndlovu, also appeared before the same magistrate on robbery charges. He is accused of robbing two individuals in October 2024.
Prosecutor Ms. Kuzu stated that Ndlovu and two accomplices intercepted Mr. Marvelous David Karimatsenga around 9 PM. They used a torch to blind him, shocked him with an electric device, and assaulted him with a rubber whip before stealing his wallet, bank cards, a 32GB memory stick, and US$210 in cash.
During the attack, Mr. Karimatsenga managed to throw his cellphone into a nearby house for safekeeping. He identified Ndlovu but refrained from confronting him. The total value of stolen items was US$225, and nothing has been recovered.
Both suspects remain in custody, with their cases set to continue on December 17. Authorities are still searching for their accomplices.
Bernard Phiri was arraigned before Bulawayo magistrate Mrs. Lenia Khumalo Moyo, who remanded him in custody until December 17. Phiri is accused of robbing Mrs. Getrude Ngwenya of US$2,258 and R12,930 in August 2024.
Prosecutor Ms. Cathrine Kuzu told the court that the robbery occurred around 7 PM when Phiri and two accomplices, still at large, broke into Mrs. Ngwenya's house.
"The suspects were armed with knives and wore black jackets and masks. They demanded money, alleging Mrs. Ngwenya had received it from club members for safekeeping," said Ms. Kuzu.
Initially, Mrs. Ngwenya denied having any money. However, one accomplice assaulted her, produced a knife, and placed it against her neck. She was then strangled with a rope and threatened with death. Fearing for her life, Mrs. Ngwenya revealed the location of a hidden cash box under a sack of potatoes in her kitchen.
In a related case, a 33-year-old man from Nkulumane, Mehluli Ndlovu, also appeared before the same magistrate on robbery charges. He is accused of robbing two individuals in October 2024.
Prosecutor Ms. Kuzu stated that Ndlovu and two accomplices intercepted Mr. Marvelous David Karimatsenga around 9 PM. They used a torch to blind him, shocked him with an electric device, and assaulted him with a rubber whip before stealing his wallet, bank cards, a 32GB memory stick, and US$210 in cash.
During the attack, Mr. Karimatsenga managed to throw his cellphone into a nearby house for safekeeping. He identified Ndlovu but refrained from confronting him. The total value of stolen items was US$225, and nothing has been recovered.
Both suspects remain in custody, with their cases set to continue on December 17. Authorities are still searching for their accomplices.
Source - The Chronicle
