News / Regional
Armed robber sentenced nine years in prison
17 Oct 2013 at 16:29hrs | Views
One of the armed robbery gang members who three months ago raided a residential flat in Bulawayo Central Business District and a house in Burnside has been sentenced to nine years in prison.
Bruce Lindani Ziyambi (36), pleaded guilty to robbing a family in Burnside when he appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Sikhumbuzo Nyathi.
Ziyambi, who committed the offence in the company of Sikhulile Moyo (39), Morgan Zhulani Ndlovu (32) and a businessman, Martin Tendai Shone (38) would serve an effective four and half years after the magistrate suspended part of the sentence.
Three years were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour while a further 18 months was suspended on condition that he restitutes $400 to the victim.
His accomplices Moyo, pleaded not guilty to the charge and were remanded in custody to Friday next week for trial.
Three more members of the gang, Alfred Chinanayi, Kelvin Nqobile Ncube and Nkosinathi Nyathi are still at large.
Ziyambi and his accomplices drove in two vehicles to the Burnside house belonging to Mr Norman David Crooks on 28 June and misrepresented that they were electricians from Zesa and wanted to inspect a meter.
Ziyambi and Ncube forced two domestic workers into a room where they produced guns and threatened to shoot them if they did not give them money.
They stole a money safe with $400, a gold ring, jewelery and a revolver and drove off after tying the two domestic workers with a string.
Shone led the gang to his car wash along Main Street where he collected keys to his other business premises in Steeldale Industrial Area where they ripped open the safe and shared the money.
The domestic workers later untied themselves and informed their employer who made a report to the police.
The gang was arrested when they raided a residential flat along Josiah Tongogara Street.
Bruce Lindani Ziyambi (36), pleaded guilty to robbing a family in Burnside when he appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Sikhumbuzo Nyathi.
Ziyambi, who committed the offence in the company of Sikhulile Moyo (39), Morgan Zhulani Ndlovu (32) and a businessman, Martin Tendai Shone (38) would serve an effective four and half years after the magistrate suspended part of the sentence.
Three years were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour while a further 18 months was suspended on condition that he restitutes $400 to the victim.
His accomplices Moyo, pleaded not guilty to the charge and were remanded in custody to Friday next week for trial.
Three more members of the gang, Alfred Chinanayi, Kelvin Nqobile Ncube and Nkosinathi Nyathi are still at large.
Ziyambi and his accomplices drove in two vehicles to the Burnside house belonging to Mr Norman David Crooks on 28 June and misrepresented that they were electricians from Zesa and wanted to inspect a meter.
Ziyambi and Ncube forced two domestic workers into a room where they produced guns and threatened to shoot them if they did not give them money.
They stole a money safe with $400, a gold ring, jewelery and a revolver and drove off after tying the two domestic workers with a string.
Shone led the gang to his car wash along Main Street where he collected keys to his other business premises in Steeldale Industrial Area where they ripped open the safe and shared the money.
The domestic workers later untied themselves and informed their employer who made a report to the police.
The gang was arrested when they raided a residential flat along Josiah Tongogara Street.
Source - Newsbite
