2 granted bail in US$120 000 gold heist

Two men accused of orchestrating a daring gold robbery in Bulawayo, allegedly using confidential information to intercept a courier transporting bullion from Gwanda, have been released on bail as police continue searching for three suspected accomplices.

Victor Tseriwa and Wellington Tendai Chidoti are facing robbery charges involving 947,81 grammes of gold valued at US$120 448, which was allegedly stolen from a courier employed by Gold Wallet Private Limited.

The pair appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Patience Ururu on Tuesday after the High Court granted them bail of US$200 each.

As part of their bail conditions, the accused were ordered to remain at their registered residential addresses, refrain from interfering with State witnesses and report to Gwanda Central Police Station every Friday.

The case was postponed to November 10.

According to the prosecution, the robbery was allegedly planned using inside information about the transportation of gold from Gwanda to Bulawayo.

Prosecutor Joseph Mugari told the court that the suspects had obtained sensitive operational details, including the courier's travel schedule, route, mode of transport and identity.

Armed with this information, the accused allegedly monitored the movements of Victor Matiki, a cash-in-transit courier employed by Gold Wallet Private Limited.

The State alleges that Tseriwa and Chidoti worked with three other suspects identified as Thethelani Ndlovu, Tony Thandolwenkosi Nyoni and Khawulani Dube, who remain at large.

The alleged robbery occurred on October 20, shortly after 11am, at a service station situated at the intersection of Josiah Tongogara Street and Leopold Takawira Avenue in Bulawayo.

Prosecutors said the suspects followed Matiki from Gwanda before confronting him at the service station.

"The accused persons, having obtained inside operational information regarding transit schedules, routes, mode of transport and custodian details, tracked the complainant from Gwanda to Bulawayo," Mugari told the court.

The suspects allegedly approached the courier from behind and physically overpowered him before grabbing a black leather pocket bag containing the gold bullion.

However, Matiki reportedly refused to surrender his employer's valuable consignment without a fight.

In an attempt to recover the stolen gold, he pursued the suspects and managed to get into their getaway vehicle, a maroon Toyota Aqua.

A struggle allegedly ensued inside the vehicle as the suspects attempted to escape.

"The accused persons and their accomplices wrestled with the complainant and forcibly threw him out of the moving vehicle before speeding away with the gold bullion," Mugari said.

The suspects subsequently disappeared with the consignment, prompting a police investigation that led to the arrest of Tseriwa and Chidoti.

The court heard that Tseriwa was apprehended at a wholesale outlet in Bulawayo.

Prosecutors allege that he admitted to having monitored Matiki's movements from Gwanda before the robbery.

Chidoti was arrested separately at a service station in Gwanda.

His arrest reportedly resulted in the recovery of US$8 000, which investigators believe formed part of his share of the proceeds from the sale of the stolen gold.

The prosecution has not indicated whether any of the stolen bullion has been recovered.

The accused are being represented by Simbarashe Innocent Madzivire of Mashayamombe Legal Practitioners.

While the two men have secured temporary freedom pending further court proceedings, investigations into the alleged robbery remain ongoing.

Police are still seeking Ndlovu, Nyoni and Dube in connection with the incident.

The case is expected to return to court on November 10, when proceedings against the two accused will continue.