News / National
US$720 000 heist: 5 jailed 11 years each
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Five members of a robbery gang that stole more than US$745 000 from Quest Financial Services in Harare have each been sentenced to an effective 11 years in prison following their conviction for armed robbery.
Washington Mangwanda (21), Brighton Chikukwa (27), Silence Matambo (27), Liberty Mukanganise (31) and Luke Zinyengere (28) were convicted after a full trial before Harare regional magistrate Mrs Jesse Kufa.
The court initially sentenced each offender to 12 years' imprisonment before suspending one year on condition of good behaviour upon their release, leaving them with effective 11-year jail terms.
The robbery, one of the largest cash heists in recent years, targeted Quest Financial Services' premises in Belgravia, Harare, and resulted in the theft of cash and valuables worth more than US$745 000.
Prosecutor-in-charge Ms Gossy Mudambu proved that on February 23, 2024, company officials secured the premises at 6 Rochester Road, Belgravia, before closing for the day.
A vault containing US$744 676, R10 500, €120 and other valuables was locked, while security guard Lancelot Tashayawedu was assigned overnight duty.
At approximately 1am on February 25, 2024, the five convicted men and accomplices who remain at large allegedly stormed the premises armed with a revolver, an unidentified blank pistol, an electric drill, an iron bar and bolt cutters.
The gang reportedly cut through the perimeter fence before confronting Tashayawedu, who was asleep in a room at the back of the property. They threatened him with violence before tying him and his girlfriend with electric cables.
The court heard that the robbers then used explosives to blast open the vault and stole US$744 676, R10 500, €120 and a 7.65mm CZ Vzor pistol.
Investigators later recovered cash amounting to US$166 180, the stolen firearm, vehicles valued at US$36 600 and other property worth US$3 695.
The total value of recovered assets amounted to US$206 475, which was subsequently returned to Quest Financial Services.
Quest Financial Services was represented during the proceedings by its Head of Operations, Mr Daniel Mandizvidza.
One of the convicted robbers, Luke Zinyengere, is no stranger to the criminal justice system. The court noted that he is not a first offender and was separately sentenced to 22 years in prison in April last year for robbery and attempting to escape from lawful custody.
Zinyengere had attempted to flee from prison guards at the Harare Magistrates Court while attending proceedings related to the Quest robbery case.
Authorities are continuing investigations to track down other suspects believed to have participated in the robbery and who remain at large.
The conviction and sentencing of the five men marks a significant breakthrough in one of Zimbabwe's most high-profile armed robbery cases, although a substantial portion of the stolen money remains unrecovered.
Washington Mangwanda (21), Brighton Chikukwa (27), Silence Matambo (27), Liberty Mukanganise (31) and Luke Zinyengere (28) were convicted after a full trial before Harare regional magistrate Mrs Jesse Kufa.
The court initially sentenced each offender to 12 years' imprisonment before suspending one year on condition of good behaviour upon their release, leaving them with effective 11-year jail terms.
The robbery, one of the largest cash heists in recent years, targeted Quest Financial Services' premises in Belgravia, Harare, and resulted in the theft of cash and valuables worth more than US$745 000.
Prosecutor-in-charge Ms Gossy Mudambu proved that on February 23, 2024, company officials secured the premises at 6 Rochester Road, Belgravia, before closing for the day.
A vault containing US$744 676, R10 500, €120 and other valuables was locked, while security guard Lancelot Tashayawedu was assigned overnight duty.
At approximately 1am on February 25, 2024, the five convicted men and accomplices who remain at large allegedly stormed the premises armed with a revolver, an unidentified blank pistol, an electric drill, an iron bar and bolt cutters.
The gang reportedly cut through the perimeter fence before confronting Tashayawedu, who was asleep in a room at the back of the property. They threatened him with violence before tying him and his girlfriend with electric cables.
The court heard that the robbers then used explosives to blast open the vault and stole US$744 676, R10 500, €120 and a 7.65mm CZ Vzor pistol.
Investigators later recovered cash amounting to US$166 180, the stolen firearm, vehicles valued at US$36 600 and other property worth US$3 695.
The total value of recovered assets amounted to US$206 475, which was subsequently returned to Quest Financial Services.
Quest Financial Services was represented during the proceedings by its Head of Operations, Mr Daniel Mandizvidza.
One of the convicted robbers, Luke Zinyengere, is no stranger to the criminal justice system. The court noted that he is not a first offender and was separately sentenced to 22 years in prison in April last year for robbery and attempting to escape from lawful custody.
Zinyengere had attempted to flee from prison guards at the Harare Magistrates Court while attending proceedings related to the Quest robbery case.
Authorities are continuing investigations to track down other suspects believed to have participated in the robbery and who remain at large.
The conviction and sentencing of the five men marks a significant breakthrough in one of Zimbabwe's most high-profile armed robbery cases, although a substantial portion of the stolen money remains unrecovered.
Source - The Herald
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