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7 in court over $50 000 robbery

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SEVEN suspected robbers who pounced on a Harare woman and allegedly stole $50 000 which she had just withdrawn from Stanbic Bank on behalf of her employer.

SEVEN suspected robbers who pounced on a Harare woman and allegedly stole $50 000 which she had just withdrawn from Stanbic Bank on behalf of her employer yesterday appeared in court facing allegations of robbery. PHILLIP CHIDAVAENZI SENIOR REPORTER

The seven — Irene Makuvaza (30) of Mabelreign, Kramer Manyetu (33) of Kuwadzana, Christopher Matsvimbo (35) of Glen Lorne, Ranganayi Ngundu (26) of Bluffhill, Tatenda Goto (28) of Mbare, Tanaka Machakata (24) of Mount Pleasant Heights and Willis Tapfumaneyi (35) of Zengeza — are expected to file their bail application before Harare magistrate Milton Serima today.

Prosecutor Sharon Mashavira alleged that on November 17 this year the accused persons teamed up and hatched a plan to rob Grace Mafaki, who had been assigned by her employer to make a $50 000 cash withdrawal at a Stanbic Bank branch in the city centre.

The seven allegedly trailed the complainant from her workplace at UCPF Building along Harare Street to Stanbic Bank after getting a tip off that she was going to withdraw money on behalf of her employer.

They allegedly observed her going into the bank located at NSSA Building along Sam Nujoma Street, while they waited outside.

After Mafaki had left the banking hall, the alleged robbers are said to have trailed her and as she passed Crown Plaza Hotel, two of the suspects disembarked the car and attempted to grab her handbag which contained the cash.

When she resisted, the duo allegedly took turns to assault her until she let go off the bag and they jumped back into the car before driving off the scene as members of the public pelted them with stones.

Upon arrest on November 28, Machakata was allegedly found in possession of $1 000 cash that was in $50 denominations, with serial numbers in sequential order to that of the money stolen from the complainant.

Matsvimbo led police detectives to the recovery of the gateaway car allegedly used in the robbery.