A man who pretended to be a police officer and robbed a Harare resident of three guns, a vehicle, an undisclosed amount of cash and other valuables was last week arrested together with his accomplices.
Godfrey Masenhu was arrested after the vehicle, an Isuzu KB280 they used as a getaway car, was involved in an accident in Epworth.
He appeared yesterday before Harare regional magistrate Kudakwashe Jarabini who remanded him in custody to January 20.
On November 19 last year, Masenhu, who was dressed in police uniform, approached Leas Pfungwadzapera, who was guarding a house, and arrested him on allegations of cultivating marijuana in the yard.
Masenhu’s alleged accomplices — Christopher Kufakwemba and Benson Joel — joined him and force-marched the guard into the complainant’s house, while Langton Nyakudirwa remained outside the premises as a sentry.
Masenhu knocked on the door before the complainant opened holding his revolver. The accused persons posed as police officers who had arrested the guard and ordered him to accompany them to the police station.
The complainant invited them into the house, and it was at this point that Masenhu allegedly tripped him down and disarmed him of his Webley revolver.
They allegedly assaulted the complainant and his guard with a log demanding cash and valuables. They also searched the complainant’s pockets and took away $2 500.
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The complainant was then handcuffed together with his guard and severely assaulted until he gave them two safe keys.
The accused persons opened the safe and stole an undisclosed amount of cash and two more firearms, a Colt 45 pistol as well as a Smith and Wesson revolver, the court heard.
They allegedly went on to ransack the whole house stealing various clothing items and two Nokia phones which they loaded into the complainant’s Isuzu KB280 double cab and drove away.
They were involved an accident in Epworth and dumped the vehicle together with some of the stolen property.
Police uniform used in the robbery was recovered. Molyn Mutamangira prosecuted.
